"An electrifying moment in human rights education"

4 November 2014. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has praised Austrian Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst, calling her win earlier this year an “electrifying moment of human rights education.” 

– As part of a visit to mark the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Vienna International Centre today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was among those treated to a performance by the Eurovision winner. 
“She confounds people’s preconceived ideas of gender and sexuality – and she appeals to them to accept her as she is,” Mr. Ban said of the drag performer, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Austria in May, marking the country’s first win since 1966.

“That is a powerful message,” he noted, adding that he is “delighted she is using her talent and the Eurovision platform to take this message to a global audience.” Conchita is a bearded drag persona created by the Austrian singer and Thomas Neuwirth.

Mr. Ban praised Conchita’s promotion of respect for diversity,” which he said was a “core value” of the United Nations Charter.
“As United Nations Secretary-General, I am proud to champion the cause of equality for all members of our human family no matter who they are or whom they love,” he stressed.

Photo: UN/Amanda Voisard.