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China Barred From Airing Eurovision Finale After Censoring LGBT Content

Ryan O'Shaughnessy
Ryan O'Shaughnessy

The censoring of a gay love song and other content is not in line with the contest's tradition of inclusivity, says Eurovision's organizer.

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The organizer of the Eurovision Song Contest barred a Chinese TV station from airing the contest's finale after China censored LGBT content in an earlier episode.

"This is not in line with the EBU's values of universality and inclusivity and our proud tradition of celebrating diversity through music," said a statement released by the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the contest, according to CNN.

Chinese broadcaster Mango TV cut two acts from the competition's semifinals in Tuesday's episode, CNN reports. One was Ireland's entrant, Ryan O'Shaughnessy, who sang a song called "Together" about love between two men; his performance featured male backup dancers acting out the story. The other was Albania's competitor, Eugent Bushpepa, whom the Chinese station considered objectionable because of his tattoos. Mango also blurred a rainbow flag held by an audience member.

In response, the EBU prevented Mango from airing the next installment of the semifinals, which took place Thursday, and the grand finale on Saturday. This year's contest is being held in Lisbon.

Mango is owned by government-controlled Hunan TV, but it wasn't immediately clear if it made the cuts on its own or at the direction of government regulators, U.K. newspaper The Independent reports. Neither the company nor regulators responded to the paper's request for comment. China in 2016 classified homosexuality as unfit subject matter for television, along with abuse, incest, and general "perversion."

Social media users in China denounced the censorship. "Isn't this a bit much?! Nearly twenty years ago Hunan TV first had a gay interview show... How are they now going in reverse?" said a message posted by the LGBT-oriented China Rainbow Media Awards on Weibo, a Twitter-style platform, The Independent notes.

O'Shaughnessy said he was glad the EBU stood up for diversity. "From the very start we've said love is love -- whether it's between two guys, two girls, or a guy and a girl, so I think this is a really important decision," he told the BBC. "They haven't taken this lightly, and I think it's a move in the right direction, so I'm happy about it."

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.