Eurovision 2012 winner Loreen has joined the Sydney Mardi Gras parade after-party as a last minute addition. Loreen will join Crystal Pepsi (Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters), Heather Small (ex-M-People) and Delta Goodrem at the party, Mardisgrasland, on Saturday 2 March.
When she was competing in the Eurovision song contest in Azerbaijan last year Loreen was the only performer to meet local human rights activists. ‘Human rights are violated in Azerbaijan every day,’ she said. ‘One should bot be silent about such things.’
The singer, whose parents immigrated to Sweden from Morocco, is a vocal supporter of LGBT rights. She sang at Stockholm Pride 2012 and spoke-out after Serbian authorities banned Belgrade Pride last year.
‘Sydney Mardi Gras inspires the world to love one another through the power and beauty of diversity,’ Loreen said.
‘The festival says something great about Sydney – it reflects the accepting, open, diverse and colorful nature of the city itself.’
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Michael Rolik welcomed the news that Loreen was joining the party line-up.
‘Loreen has a fanatical fan base, has already gone global and with her first full album Heal recently released she’s set to get even bigger again,’ Rolik said.
‘I can see Australia continuing its love affair with Swedish artists, following our national obsession with ABBA and widespread adoration of Robyn.’
Sydney Mardi Gras started on 8 February with a packed program of performances, films, exhibitions and talks. The legendary Sydney Mardi Gras parade is on Saturday 2 March.
