Russian contestant addresses LGBTI rights in Eurovision press conference
Image: Russia's 2015 Eurovision contestant Polina Gagarina.
RUSSIA’S Eurovision contestant Polina Gagarina was confronted with a question over LGBTI rights during the first semi-final press conference where she qualified for this Sunday’s grand final.
Questions came from the floor thick and fast but it was a question from ESCin5, a Turkish Eurovision website, who asked Gagarina about Russia’s reputation regarding LGBTI rights and whether she would consider singing a song in support of LGBTI Russians.
Gagarina, who had been speaking mostly through an interpreter in previous press conferences, spoke in English without assistance from her delegation.
“Well… I just can say that my song is about love and it’s about speaking… everyone speaking one language: the language of love,” Gagarina said.
“It’s no difference who you are, we are people and we can make bridges.
“I saw that happen today and it was amazing.”
Speaking to the Star Observer, ESCin5 journalist Latif Can Derin said: “My question was not actually for Polina, it was a question for Russia and international media.
“Polina was just a bridge for my question.
“I wanted to say something about general LGBTI problems, not only about Russia. Because I can’t say the [Turkish] government loves LGBTI, therefore I wanted to ask that question to Russia as a Turk.”
Derin did not completely appreciate Gagarina’s answer, and in his opinion, it failed to address the question.
“She [said] that her song means ‘love’ but… the problem is that which love did she mean?” he said.
“There is only one love according to the Russian government and its between women and men.
“Therefore her answer wasn’t the right answer. I wanted to hear something like ‘my government hates LGBTI but me and my team support LGBTI rights’.”
It appears the be the first time Gagarina has been asked about treatment of LGBTI people in Russia by international media.
You can watch Russia perform in the grand final this Sunday morning 5am AEST on SBS. For the first time, Australia’s vote officially counts towards deciding this year’s Eurovision winner.
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It’s a polite a neutral response in my opinion, did he expect her to have an epiphany and become an lgbti activist or something?
I personally thought her answer was thoughtful. Remember, she has to go back to Russia. Who knows what might have happened to her if she gave the answer the reporter wanted :-/
Agreed! She sounds very supportive of equal rights, but can’t really explicitly say it in case she gets in trouble back home.
I think she’s got an amazing voice and great song (even if a little cheesy, but this is Eurovision). I hope she does well and doesn’t get booed (none of the contestants deserve to get booed because of where they’re from).
The song is fabulous and is actually in my top 5 Timothy, and agree with you re: alliance voting. Here’s hoping all those Aussies in Europe vote for Guy ;-) Enjoy your Eurovision weekend!
Definitely in my top 5 too, with Estonia, Norway, Israel and Sweden.
Thanks, enjoy yours too!
Slovenia, Georgia, Iceland and Estonia for me ;-)