Officials in Moscow have denied an application from LGBT organizers to stage a “Conchita Wurst March of Bearded Women and Men,” which was slated for May 27.
“We informed them that the event could not take place,” Alexei Mayorov, the head of regional security and corruption, told Interfax on May 15. He added that officials were acting to “respect the morality in the education of the younger generation.”
The Associated Press reports that the decision was driven by fears a parade “would provoke clashes between gays and their opponents.”
Organizers say that the parade would have kicked off at 13:00, and mvoed from Pushkin Square to Nikitsky Gate. They had hoped to draw around 100 marchers.
The parade would have been a powerful statement on LGBT inclusion. May 27 marks the 21st anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Russia.
Prior to the mayor’s ban on the parade, Nikolay Alexeyev, founder of Moscow Pride, told GayRussia.ru that the march would mark the latest battle in the group’s ongoing war with local politicians: “The march of bearded people … will [be] a trial balloon in our relations with the Moscow mayor’s office this year.”
The ban on the parade comes days after politicians in Belarus and Russia called on their governments to organize a “straight” Eurovision.
Photo: Eurovision.tv (EBU)
off-topic here: I think Azerbaijan looked ashamed of themselves after what happened to them 2013 (cheating allegations and whatnot), so they seemed to relax this year, but for sure they will up their game next year in Austria, which means we will be seeing Azerbaijan again in the top 10 at least, I think!!!
Plus, I think the “Voice of Eurasia” is soooo stupid!!!!
@Rashad whatever.. 😉
@Wergie, I feel pity for you.
@Robyn, I just saw that. This is very nice of him. And yeah, the reactions were positive.
@Robyn It’s not sincere. I don’t believe them, their society is one of the most conservative out there and no one is going tolerate this…, but they do post such messages for the show.., just to earn points and put it in face of Europeans.. See! We are most tolerant nation and our state is a true democracy blabla but in reality..
@Rashad look, i was born there and i don’t care If you don’t believe me. Anyways, I know everything about your country, people and about what happened to all the Armenians in there between 1988-1990. This information comes straight from my parents and relatives who survived the atrocity, thus, at first hand. Oh, now we live in one of the non-english speaking (forgive my french please) countries of West Europe, so stop that bs about brainwashing government.. Sounds funny though. By the way, this is exactly what happening in Azerbaijan. The major brainwashing.. since 1990)) I mean Armenia is West… Read more »
Everyone has right to speak their mind and do what to do what they consider good for themselves. If one thinks that so, just respect this mayor. It’s his teritory. Don’t be double standard.
Azerbaijan came place 22 so they did not come up with good acts every year. Not this year. However this not is about Azerbaijan but Russia!
Ban Russia
@Wergie, I won’t try to make you like me, any country, or any group of people. But at least, you should know that your statement is racist, xenophobic and hateful. I’m sorry, but Eurovision is not the right place for you. I’m not sure if it is true that you were born in Baku (because you sound immature, it mathematically doesn’t make any sense), but if it is, I’m glad to see someone from my city (even if he hates me). I can guess what kind of stories your government has been telling you about us, but believe me, they… Read more »
Like I’ve said in other posts, I don’t think any of the eastern european countries should be forced to withdraw from the contest because they have different social norms. If they believe in different social norms give them the opportunity to present it. As for Azerbaijan, I give them credit for paying enough money to have a decent act every year represent their country. Everyone knows that Azerbaijan is notorious for buying songs from famous composers from other countries, but at least they’re good. Maybe they should ask Armenian composers to write a song for them for next year, after… Read more »
@Rashad pardon me, i’m just stating the obvious(!) facts, so your ‘brainwashing’ excuse is irrelevant here.
On the other hand,(tolerate this, its freedom of expression!) i’ll be honest, i don’t like your people (many of them) and your country and i do have 10005 reasons to do so. I’m not just prejudiced someone, i know what i am talking about, you know why? Well, because I was born in Baku.., okey?!
I don’t want to argue too, its pointless.
@Wergie, I’m not going to criticize you or argue with you. I know that where you live there is so much brainwashing and you’re another victim.
Just get over it, some people may like Azerbaijan and you can’t fight all those people under every freaking post. Respect freedom of expression, and show some tolerance.
I thought it was clear enough by now that the “Eastern whining” (political, I’d say, though not personal) was just that: it is obvious that they do NOT care about individuals’ sexuality when it comes to who they send… a) Russia themselves chose to INVITE a gay backing vocalist for their very act; b) the lead singer from Belarus has a “straight or neutral” stage image, but he is as camp as Christmas off it [my husband and his friends saw it with their own eyes as they came out of the Euroclub to smoke a cigarette with him] And… Read more »
@Willy ‘different every year, — trapeze artist, man in a glass box, sabina babayeva’s dress, etc. ‘ do you really think that its all created by Azeris? So naive.. don’t you know they pay for such ideas too? Its ‘all inclusive’.. remember?
I said ‘stupid or pretending’ 🙂 So he is not, in case he doesn’t know about ‘all inclusive’. No adequate person, knowing about their ways will appreciate Azerbaijan’s valuable cultural contributions in this contest.
Well, Willy, not everyone else does that. Don’t generalize 😉
I personally hate this game they play, i hate it even more, when someone, who don’t have a clue praises such countries as Azerbaijan for being something they are not and never will be.
March of 100 may be right for a small village you need at least 10,000 for a big city and at that point approval is not mandatory. Having 10,000 you can make an even stronger statement by setting a flash mob or an ad hoc march.
@Jericho ffs are you really that stupid or just pretending? Don’t you know that their entries ARE NOT REALLY THEIRS? Its all bought ‘all inclusive’ (music, lyrics, dancers, stage design, back-vocalists, video-makers, pr agents, make up artists, stylists) abroad, mainly in Sweden, each year, since 2009. ESC won’t lose anything in case of their absence – its quite the contrary.
We have enough of swedish production from Sweden.
No surprises here since any acts of “gay propaganda” were banned months ago, no matter if they are called Conchita Wurst March or Tchaikovsky Jockstrap Parade.
But I insist on believing they are not withdrawing. They want their message to reach to a broader european audience, and a excuse for their nationalistic hate speech when they end up feeling aggravated yet again next year.
Especially Azerbaijan. I always love their acts!!!
I hope Belarus, Russia and Azerbaijan all stay. They bring something different to the stage every year.
@adrian_gabriela, where did you get the thought of Azerbaijan’s absence for the next year?
Maybe your right ,lets see till next year 🙂
@adriana_gabriela I disagree!
Funny how beards have suddenly become a “threat to morality”. 😀
Looks like we wont see Russia,Belarus and Azerdbaijan next year at Eurovision in Austria 🙂