Russian President Vladimir Putin made some comments about Eurovision’s 2014 winner, Conchita Wurst during a recent dinner in St. Petersburg.
President Putin made reference to Wurst’s Eurovision in his speech, and made the following remarks:
“The Bible talks about the two genders, man and woman, and the main purpose of union between them is to produce children. For us it is important to reaffirm traditional values… I personally am very liberal (on matters of personal morality). People have the right to live their lives the way they want. But they should not be aggressive, or put it up for show.”
Conchita Wurst, who is a bearded drag queen, has attracted a great deal of controversy since her entrance into the Eurovision song contest. Petitions were started in a number of different countries to have her removed from the competition.
Wurst’s victory left a sour taste in mouths of a number of Russian officials, including Valery Rashkin who said “We cannot tolerate this endless madness.”
Indeed, a number of Russian leaders found Wurst’s win so controversial that the country is rumoured to be leaving the competition altogether and starting its own more “family friendly” song contest with allied countries.
Putin’s comment suggesting that people shouldn’t “be aggressive” regarding their lifestyle echoes the sentiment of Russia’s controversial “gay propaganda” law that bans the distribution of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” among minors. The law has been attracted criticism from activists, many of whom are concerned that the law serves as a blanket ban on the promotion of LGBTI rights, as well as leading to an increase and justification of violence against the queer community.
Sophie Joske
