The inclusion of Conchita Wurst in next
week's Eurovision song contest has raised the ire of Russian
politician Vitaly Milonov.
The St. Petersburg lawmaker's 2011
ordinance banning the promotion of “gay propaganda” to minors
inspired a nationwide law that led to calls for a boycott of the
Winter Olympics held earlier this year in Sochi, Russia.
According to UK's
The Guardian, Milonov has asked Russia's Eurovision
selection committee not to send Russian musicians to Eurovision,
which starts Tuesday in Copenhagen.
In his letter, Milonov called the event
a “Europe-wide gay parade” and argued that Russian participation
would “contradict the path of cultural and moral renewal that
Russia stands on today.”
“Even just broadcasting the
competition in Russia could insult millions of Russians,” Milonov
stated.
Austria's entry received the lion's
share of Milonov's outrage.
Singer Thomas Neuwirth will compete
this year in his drag persona of Conchita Wurst. Conchita
beautifully combines masculinity with femininity by wearing a full
beard in her act.
“The participation of the obvious
transvestite and hermaphrodite Conchita Wurst on the same stage as
Russian singers on live television is blatant propaganda of
homosexuality and spiritual decay,” Milonov said.
He later tweeted that a complete
boycott of the show was not necessary provided the “pervert from
Austria” is excluded.