A pop singer from the Netherlands says he will refuse to take part in this weekend's Eurovision Song Contest final in Moscow if Russian police again violently suppress a gay parade in the city. Dutch trio The Toppers may not do Eurovision, if anti-gay violence erupts The GayRussia organisation announced plans for a gay equality parade to coincide with the Eurovision final, but it has been banned by the authorities. A spokesman for Moscow's mayor said "Moscow has never had gay parades and it never will." Openly-gay Dutch Eurovision singer Gordon, a member of crooning trio The Toppers, told Radio Netherlands: "If violence is used during the demonstration, I'll fly straight back to the Netherlands." There have been threats to arrest marchers in Saturday's Moscow Pride march, but despite being attacked and injured at 2007's march, UK LGBT equality campaigner Peter Tatchell says he plans to join the marchers again. "International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence," he said in a statement. "I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners. All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks. "These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them." 2009's Eurovision Song Contest will be broadcast in New Zealand at 7:30pm this Sunday 17 May, on Triangle TV and the Stratos channel on Sky and Freeview. Dutch singer Gordon sings with 'The Toppers', shown on the video clip below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Tuesday, 12th May 2009 - 12:13pm