Russia's SPUTNIK INTERNATIONAL English-language online
newspaper today denounced the allegedly "Gay-Themed"
2015 Eurovision Song Contest, held yesterday in Vienna
and watched live by about 200-million people worldwide
(me included) in which the Russian contestant ultimately achieved
only "second-place" in the international vote-count among
27 countries' entries.
"Russia had no chance of winning," the lead-paragraph
blares, "because another criteria has been introduced
to this volatile mix -- homosexuality."
Never mind that Russia's vote-total was the highest throughout
much of the lengthy vote-reporting by the 40 counties competing,
nor the fact that at half-time, with Russia then in the lead, special
camera-time recognition was accorded to Russia's singer, Polina
Gagarina, who already was tearful at the thought that
her performance was leading in votes and thus looked like
it was eventually going to be triumphant.
Instead Sweden's Mans Zelmerlow, described by a reporter as "hot",
topped the final vote-count for his performance of the song "Heroes".
Zelmerlow had been criticized weeks ago for his remark, during
a television cooking show, that "Homosexuality is not
natural," but thereafter he had received educational counseling
by Swedish LGBT organizations and thus, when accepting
his trophy for "Heroes" last night, he graciously said: "We
are all heroes, no matter who we love, who we are or
what we believe in."
Probably Russia's leaders were most annoyed by the performance of
"This Time" by its neighbor country Lithuania, in which some
of the dancers exchange a "gay" kiss:
"At least Russia wasn't booed," commented one
newspaper critic, thus hinting at the tension sensed by
some of the audience members.
The Eurovision entry from Romania was the song "De La Capat" ("All Over Again"),
perfortmed by the pop-band Voltaj, calling attention to the situation
of the hundreds of children in Romania left behind with grandparents or relatives when
parents migrate abroad to find employment.
The theme of the 60-year-old Eurovision Contest
is 'Building Bridges' among nations, which this year
for the first time included Australia, and also for the
first time was able to be watched "live" on television in China.
ALLAN CRUSE
24 MAY 2015