The 2009 Eurovision Song Contest has been used (and abused) by Russian groups fighting for homosexual rights. While EuroVisionary believe in equal rights no matter sexuality we do not support that they try to connect gay parades with the Contest we love.
All through these two weeks here in Moscow one topic not at all connected to the Eurovision Song Contest has been brought up several times. Several artists have at press conferences and in interviews been asked about their opinion on whether or not they support that a planned, but by the authorities forbidden, gay parade should take place in Moscow this Saturday. They are here to sing and not surprisingly then they knew nothing about it. Most decided quite diplomatically to say that they are here to compete at the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest and that they don’t want to get involved with internal Russian politics, but do believe in equal rights for everyone. Only the Dutch representative The Toppers created a little bit of fuss as Gordon said that if the police reacted with violence today then he would not go on stage should the Netherlands have qualified. His comment was that he will not go on stage in a country where his people are being treated like that.
The cultural differences between Russia and in particular many Western countries are very different when it comes to homosexuality, but the Eurovision Song Contest should not be used for these things. It is a fact that many fans of the Contest are homosexual, but it is not – and will never be – something related to a gay parade. We don’t support that Russian police apparently reacted quite strong towards a group of homosexual wanting to demonstrate this morning, but we will not support either that these things are being connected to the Eurovision Song Contest. Russia is not yet ready for these things and the groups demonstrating despite it being forbidden deliberately picked this day of two reasons: There is a lot of extra media attention on the Russian capital today and they were hoping to get some Eurovision Song Contest fans to play along with it. EuroVisionary cannot support such actions, but will instead encourage a healthy and sober debate about discrimination due to sexual orientation in Russia.
