Ten Reasons Why Conchita Should Win

From the International Business Times:

1. It will upset the Russians. Vitaly Milonov, the politician who was behind Russia's strict anti-gay propaganda law, has been reported as saying that "pervert" Wurst would "insult millions of Russians" by taking part in the "Europe-wide gay parade". Russia is expected to suffer in the voting because of its stance on homosexuality and the current crisis in Ukraine. The Ukrainian entry received rousing cheers during the semi-finals, while Russia's Tolmachevy Twins were booed.

2. It will upset homophobes in Eastern Europe. Protesters in Armenia and Belarus have created petitions asking their national broadcasters to edit Conchita out of the live broadcast, though the European Broadcasting Union wouldn't allow that.

3. It would upset Austrian right-wing politicians like Heinz-Christian Strache, FPO leader. During the national selection process he called Conchita "ridiculous" and threw his support behind another entry, Alf Poier, who said Conchita needed psychiatric help. The Austrian media quoted Poier as saying: "If someone doesn't know if they're a man or a woman, they should go to a psychotherapist rather than to the song contest."

Hit the link for the rest. (Via JMG reader Polish Bear)

Eurovision 2014: Belarus' Entry

"I'm not Patrick Swayze and you're no Jennifer Grey." And then something about Google Maps. It's actually catchy, but it definitely lacks that famous Eurovision cheese. I'm getting a Robin Thicke vibe.

BELARUS: Gay Events Banned In Minsk

Radio Free Europe reports:

Authorities in Minsk have banned two gay-rights events, but Belarusian activists have vowed to go ahead anyway. Authorities blamed their decision not to allow a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) march planned for December 11 and a gay-rights rally planned for December 12 on "technical" and timing problems. The GayBelarus national youth civic association condemned the ban, saying that the unwillingness by authorities to discuss different formats and times for the events "constitutes deliberate contempt of civil and political rights and freedoms."

Belarus decriminalized homosexuality in 1994, but there are zero LGBT rights or protections at any level.

RELATED: In 2010, Belarus police roughed up and arrested gay pride attendees in Minsk.  In 2009, Belarus custom officials seized copies of Pride Magazine, which featured my cover story interview with Rachel Maddow.

Eurovision: Belarus' Anastasiya Vinnikova

THIS is Eurovision.

BELARUS: Gays Arrested And Roughed Up By Police At Slavic Pride

Today Minsk cops burst out of a police bus several times to chase and arrest young gay men displaying rainbow flags at the city's Slavic Pride event. Early reports claim riot police beat and arrested several dozen participants. At times, the foreign press outnumbered both the police and the protesters. I'll be updating this post all day, below are the first images.

MINSK: Hooded Fascists Gather Outside Gay Pride Headquarters

A gang of hooded fascists gathered tonight outside a Minsk hotel where the first of this weekend's Slavic Pride events are taking place. Police have the situation under control at the moment, but this may not bode well for tomorrow's parade. Follow along on this live blog.

BELARUS: Slavic Pride To Defy Ban

Organizers of Slavic Pride say that this weekend's parade in Minsk, Belarus will go on despite a government ban. Via Russian activist Nikolai Alekseyev:

Tomorrow dozens of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Belarusians, alongside straight people, will go to the streets of Minsk to defy the ban and assert their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. They will show that they are against homophobia and discrimination. They cannot expect protection from the European court of human rights because Belarus is still the only country in Europe which is not a member of the Council of Europe. In contrast to Vilnius last Saturday, they will not be joined by dozens of foreign human rights activists. There will be no European parliamentarians taking part in the Slavic gay pride. There will probably be no foreign diplomats to observe the event. But they will be joined by a group of fellow Russian activists who face similar problems and who will come to show their solidarity. And, most importantly, they will have the courage and unstoppable will to live in freedom, respect and dignity. All of them know the risk they are taking, but they are ready to pay the price. Slavic gay pride will be a celebration of courage and will remind us that Harvey Milk's ideals are still alive, and still inspire people all around the world to fight injustice and prejudice, even in hostile and suppressive conditions.

Fascists and anti-gay religious groups are expected to protest the parade, as we saw last week in Vilnius, Lithuania.

"Belarus? BelaWEAK!"

Last week I mentioned that copies of Pride '09 magazine, featuring my cover story interview with Rachel Maddow, were seized by customs officials in Belarus, who don't want any damn homo magazines marring their picturesque countryside. Rachel and her team covered the story briefly and I just got the clip from her fab assistant, Alana. It's a cute bit and Rachel says she's "not taking it personally."

No Pride 09 For Belarus

A small shipment of Pride '09, which features my cover story interview with Rachel Maddow, was seized by Belarus authorities who don't want gay magazines in their country.

Customs officials in Belarus have seized 25 copies of the magazine Pride, which is published by the international Pride group InterPride, whose membership includes Project GayBelarus. Siarhei Androsenka, he head of Project GayBelarus, was informed by customs officials in Minsk of the seizure at the end of last week. On Monday, he visited the customs office and was informed that the copies of the magazine had been seized as GayBelarus had no legal status and that the copies were not all for the personal use of the addressee, Sergey Androsenko. In a statement, posted on their Website, Project GayBelarus pointed out that in the “Republic of Belarus, the rights of freedom speech, distribution and reception of the printed information are often limited”. Belarus, often dubbed “the last dictatorship in Europe”, maintains tight State control over the media, including the import of foreign material. Small concessions are sometimes made as Belarus seeks improved relations with Europe.

Like many similar groups, Project GayBelarus has not been allowed to register as an organization in their country.