Eurovision winner seen as political message

Conchita Wurst, a bearded drag queen from Austria, won the 2014 Eurovision song contest on the 10 May 2014 with a song 'Rise like a Phoenix' that scooped 290 points.

EUObserver, and other commentators, suggested that there was a political dimension to the occasion - attitude towards Russia – booed for being an aggressor in Ukraine and for banning gay rights – and attitudes towards transvestites.

Several Russian politicians showed their anger at Conchita Wurst's victory in the contest, calling for the country to withdraw.

• Primary Source

ESO: Key Source: Euromaidan - Protests in Ukraine 2013 - 2015 - Key source http://www.europeansources.info/record/euromaidan-protests-in-ukraine-2013-2015/

ESO: Background information: Russia repeats criticism on EU attitude to gay rights http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-repeats-criticism-on-eu-attitude-to-gay-rights/

EBU: Eurovision Song Contest 2014: Press Release, 10.05.14: Austria wins 2014 European Song Contest http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=austria_wins_2014_eurovision_song_contest

ESO: Background information: Eurovision Song Contest 2014 - Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurovision-song-contest-2014-copenhagen-denmark/

The Guardian, 12.05.14: Drag queen? Transgender? Conchita's an ambassador and that's what matters http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/12/conchita-drag-queen-transgender-ambassador-eurovision-winner-trans-gender-diversity

Deutsche Welle, 11.05.14: Eurovision crowns its first bearded queen http://dw.de/p/1Bxju

The Guardian, 12.05.14: Eurovision: UK viewers wanted Poles to win – but experts ranked them bottom http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/may/12/uk-poles-eurovision-winner-panel-last

Euronews, 11.05.14: Conchita’s Eurovision triumph: “victory for tolerance” http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/11/conchita-s-eurovision-triumph-victory-for-tolerance/

Der Standard, 12.05.14: Europe wanted to see Conchita Wurst win (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE143183-Europe-wanted-to-see-Conchita-Wurst-win

e-vestnik, 11.05.14: Okay to find women with beards repulsive (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE143239-Okay-to-find-women-with-beards-repulsive

The Local.at, 08.05.14: Bearded Eurovision drag queen courts controversy http://www.thelocal.at/20140508/bearded-eurovision-drag-queen-draws-controversy

The Local.at, 13.05.14: Russia wants its own 'straight' Eurovision http://www.thelocal.at/20140513/russia-wants-straight-eurovision-of-its-own

BBC News, 14.05.14: Eurovision's 'bearded lady' winner divides Russia http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27404406

Balkan Insight, 13.05.14: Drag Queen's Eurovision Win Highlights East-West Divide http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/europe-and-the-region-divided-over-conchita-wurst

The Guardian, 16.05.14: Parade for Eurovision's Conchita Wurst banned by Russian officials http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/may/16/eurovision-conchita-wurst-parade-russia-ban

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 17.05.14: The reaction to Conchita Wurst’s victory at Eurovision highlights the polarisation over LGBTI rights across Europe http://bit.ly/1oy3jfu

BBC News, 18.05.14: Conchita Wurst, Eurovision winner, in Austria concert http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27462330

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