Eurovision’s Conchita Wurst: ‘People should accept diversity’

Austria’s Eurovision star Conchita Wurst has said that although people don’t have to “like the fact there are gays out there”, they do need to “accept” diversity.

The drag queen – who will compete in tonight’s (May 8) second Eurovision semi-final in Copenhagen – also spoke to Attitude about why she chose to grow a beard as part of her act.

“It’s all about doing what you want with your life. If you want to be a bearded lady then so be it,” she explained. “Hopefully people well understand that. No one has to love it, they just have to accept it.

“The same with gay people. People don’t have to like the fact there are gays out there but they just have to accept that there are people who are different to them and that they too should live happy lives.”

The singer also spoke about her experience growing up as a gay boy, saying that she did have a “tough time” living in a small village.

“I had a very safe childhood. But when I was a teenager, I had a tough time. I grew up in a small village and as small gay boy it wasn’t that easy. I tried to fit in as much as I could. I was forced to hide being gay and I changed myself in every way i could imagine so that I could lead a happy life and no one knew how I felt.

However, Wurst soon realised that hiding your sexuality doesn’t make you happy.

“Eventually I came to the conclusion that I deserved a fabulous life and then came out. My advice, do whatever you want as long as you’re not hurting someone,” she said.

The second Eurovision semi-final airs tonight at 8pm on BBC Three.

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