“Last year Conchina Wurst was the perfect diva for gay people. We like to dance, we like disco, we like divas,” Barnes said with a measure of self-ridicule. “Eurovision is broadcast in 3D: dance, disco and divas. Paul Barnes, a gay British man in his fifties, has been a fan for decades. He pointed out that Eurovision remains a global event, watched by more than 180 million viewers worldwide, from Portugal to Azerbaijan, and even Australia, which was invited to participate in this year’s edition.Īlthough the song contest is not designed to appeal specifically to the LGBT world, many say it projects the values of tolerance and diversity that are dear to them.
“We want to produce great TV shows that appeal to the greatest number of people: No matter where they are from, no matter if they are men or women, young or old, in Europe or out, white or black, homosexual or straight,” Bakker insisted.
This fact has not gone unnoticed,” Sietse Bakker, Eurovision’s event supervisor, told FRANCE 24 in a recent interview.īut the Dutchman said Eurovision’s wide fan base could hardly be defined by sexual orientation. “Many of our most dedicated contest fans, those who follow Eurovision throughout the entire year, are from the LGBT community. Slowly, but surely, the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi and transgender) community found a welcoming home in Europe’s annual musical extravaganza. Drag queens, a lesbian kiss and a transgender champion are part of the official history of Eurovision, which is organising its 60th edition in Vienna on Saturday.