Conchita, Ban join forces in gay-rights fight

The UN Secretary General has met with bearded Eurovision drag queen Conchita Wurst, praising her efforts to fight against discrimination and intolerance.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets Austrian singer and Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita in Vienna (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meets Austrian singer and Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita in Vienna (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)

The bearded Eurovision Song Contest winner was met with rapturous applause after performing at the UN conference in Vienna.

Many officials and diplomats crowded around to get snap a selfie or get an autograph with the star.

“I heard that she won this Eurovision Song Contest. I immediately knew that she was the star of the world," Ban told reporters and diplomats at the conference.

“But what made her win so meaningful was the way she turned her victory in the song contest into an electrifying moment of human rights education,” he added.

Addressing the UN, Wurst again urged tolerance.

“Unfortunately, there are still many, many countries and people out there who think that human rights are just for some, not for everybody,” she said.

Ban confuses Austria and Australia

UN chief Ban Ki-moon has apologised for accidentally Austria with Australia during his visit to Vienna.

Speaking at the UN conference of developing landlocked countries hosted by the Austrian capital, Mr Ban commented:

"I thank in particular (Austrian) President (Heinz) Fischer and the government of Australia."

He later corrected himself and apologised in the news conference, saying: "There are no kangaroos in Austria. Sometimes this happens, I hope you understand."


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