EITHNE TYNAN: Eurovision used to be about high camp and lowbrow fun but the joke isn’t funny anymore… Wherever you stand on its rights and wrongs, it seems there might only be one way for it to go
When the Eurovision Song Contest first began, one of the most contentious issues surrounding it was the widespread disapproval of homosexuality across many of the participating nations. In some regions, being gay was not only socially unacceptable but also legally punishable.
Performers adorned in tight satin and sparkling sequins had to be cautious, fearing that their true identities might be revealed to viewers at home. Of course, this wasn’t a concern for everyone—Dana, for instance, was clearly not among the worried. Neither was Johnny Logan, who turned 72 yesterday and has been happily married to the same woman for five decades. However, for numerous others, including various Belgian participants, remaining hidden was a necessity during those formative years.
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