'We're not hidg': Gay and lbian Rsians say a cultural shift is unrway

IS EUROVISN A GAY EVENT? LGBT PERFORMANC THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE NTT

A gay Mlim teen and BDSM anarchists will vie for this year's Eurovisn Song Contt, as the petn's only trans and drag champns return. * eurovision 2019 lgbt *

The global mic world's "gay Olympics" are back wh vengeance, as the fal for the annual wacky tune-filled phenomenon known as the Eurovisn Song Contt will take place Tel Aviv, Israel, on mp athetics are monplace at the always over-the-top Eurovisn, but this year's ntt fal is shapg up as one of s most overtly queer extravaganzas gay, genr-playful, and Mlim teen crooner Bilal Hassani will pete for France, and leather-clad bondage-synth-punk tr Hatari aim to take the crown for Iceland — wh some Eurovisn experts predictg that spe the band's cidly anti-pop approach (or maybe bee of ), they jt might pull off a w. "I'll never stop playg mic to su someone's polil agenda, nor will I stop speakg out agast vlatns of human rights wherever the world they may be, " the sger told Rters on 19-year-old Hassani, merely petg for France as an openly gay Mlim is a statement self, one that's unfortunately been met wh an onslght of social media attacks over both his relign and his Hassani's eedom-embracg Eurovisn song "Roi" ("Kg"), many have seen somethg of a fiant gay anthem. "I love the sayg 'gay anthem, ' but at the same, 's also a song that's directed toward anyone who may feel margalized or alienated society, " Hassani told NBC Out.

And if, om the top of your head, you n name the specific years that happened, well then you know you are a te homosexual–sorry, Eurovisn fan.

This song spoke a subtle msage to the queer muny, at a time when homosexualy was still crimalised many parts of Europe. In Europe, Turkey’s TRT ced Concha Wurst’s 2014 victory as a reason for their whdrawal om the ntt, meanwhile the now-spend Belasian broadster BTRC submted an entry to Eurovisn 2021 which clud suggtively homophobic language.