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After Conchita Wurst flew the flag for gay and transgender rights across the globe at last year’s Eurovision song contest, Lithuania continued the theme this year with same-sex kisses from male and female dancers with its song “This Time”.
While homosexual acts in Lithuania have been legal since 1993, same-sex marriage is still illegal and prejudice towards gay and lesbian couples remains entrenched in its society.
The same-sex kisses were celebrated on Twitter, with many commenting that Lithuanian singers Monika Linkyte and Vaidas Baumila know exactly how to play up to Eurovision’s strong gay fan base.
According to reports, Eurovision TV editors even chose to close up on the gay kisses and avoid the straight ones on the international live stream.
However, Lithuania is not among the favourites to win the song contest despite their strong LGBT message.
Show all 8 1 /8Most controversial Eurovision moments Most controversial Eurovision moments Conchita Wurst, Austria (2014) Russia’s anti-gay president Vladmir Putin branded Eurovision a ‘Europe-wide gay parade’ and shortly afterwards, Austrian drag singer Tom Neuworth more than got his own back. Neuworth’s bearded lady alter-ego Conchita Wurst triumphed with the Bond-style “Rise Like a Phoenix”, shooting down homophobes who had sent her abuse in the run-up to the contest.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Donatan and Cleo, Poland (2014) When Poland returned to Eurovision after a two-year absence, few suspected that girls dressed as milkmaids could be quite so raunchy. Controversially, the UK public voted this their favourite, while the national jury placed it last. Soprano Laura Wright called it “soft porn” and “two boobs too far”.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Ping Pong, Israel (2000) Israel and Syria were officially at war during this contest and just to make matters worse, Ping Pong decided to wave Syrian flags during rehearsals in a bid for peace. Unsurprisingly, Israeli politicians demanded they be banned for not representing national values and when they weren’t, they left them to cover all their own expenses. The flags made a comeback in the final but they only received seven points.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Stephane and 3G, Georgia (2009) “We Don’t Wanna Put In” was understandably read as a massive dig at Putin, just one year after Georgia’s war with Russia. The European Broadcast Union deemed it “too political” for Eurovision and Georgia was asked to either change the lyrics or submit a different song. They refused and withdrew from the competition.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Paul Oscar, Iceland (1997) This gay pop singer sparked outrage when he performed “My Final Dance” backed by four latex-clad women provocatively frolicking on a white leather sofa. To this day it remains one of the most eyebrow-raising and overtly sexual Eurovision moments ever.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Dana International, Israel (1998) Conchita’s been there, done that since, but Dana International was the first transgender person to represent their country at Eurovision back in the late Nineties. She caused uproar in Israel, with ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting in the streets and some even sending death threats. Naturally, she won with a feather-laden diva-like performance to show the haters who’s the boss.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Teapacks, Israel (2007) Yet another Israeli controversy came with Teapacks’ song “Push the Button”, which included lyrics about “crazy rulers” and a “world full of terror”. Some speculated that the track reflected Israeli anxiety about a nuclear war with Iran, but it was given the go ahead by Eurovision bosses.
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Most controversial Eurovision moments Jean-Claude Pascal, Luxembourg (1961) Luxembourg’s entry “Maybe It Isn’t America (Because America Isn’t the Be-All)” was sung in French and widely seen as anti-American, just as Ronald Reagan took up his presidency. It didn’t do too well, finishing in 11th.
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Sweden , Australia , Italy , Russia and Serbia are thought to be the favourites to win the song contest, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
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