The unstoppable future of love, respect and tolerance: Conchita Wurst at TEDxAmRing

They are a team just working in sync. Although they have never met before - they are constantly missing each other in the mirror. The private person Tom Neuwirth and the art figure Conchita Wurst respect each other from the bottom of their hearts. They are two individual characters with their own individual stories, but with one essential message for tolerance and against discrimination.
Because of the discrimination against Tom in his teenage-years, he created Conchita, The Bearded Lady, as a statement. A statement for tolerance and acceptance - as it's not about appearances; it's about the human being. 'Everybody should live their lives the way they want, as long as nobody else gets hurt or is restricted in their own way of life.'
May 30, 2014 at Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria.
www.tedxamring.com
/ tedxamring
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In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@vivcrimson]

her face is glowing every time she opens her mouth. what a beautiful person. i'm not gay myself but i can totally relate to not being accepted for the person you are inside. wish you all gay people acceptance and happiness! you are great people!

[@yaelv4712]

I really like Conchita. She is down to earth, has a message and class. Even when she is nervous, she appears to be centered and focused. Too bad there are so many negative comments: Who cares about to beard or not to beard? And - especially for an Austrian (hehe) ;D - her English is excellent.

[@DanielaSparrow7]

FOR A BETTER WORLD FULL OF LOVE AND TOLERANCE PLEAAAASE STOP HATING. START LOVING. We Love you Conchita, thank you for being the voice of all of us who believes that this change Can be possible!!! We Are Unstoppable ♥

[@LAUREL5784]

Stop thinking critically and start accepting everything equals disaster.

[@posoco2000]

I am not pro homosexuality, and yet loving one another is about respect and tolerance of people who think and act in a different way than ours. I can admire his honesty and his art with no harm to myself or anyone.

[@Luvie1980]

Haters are out in full force over this video just look at the likes. Conchita Wurst can be whomever he/she wants. Instead of judging this person who about listening to what Conchita is saying. I think many people in the comments here do not accept themselves 100%, because if you did then you wouldn't be judging this person. And you would be more concerned about your own lives.

[@Luvie1980]

Elizabeth Kilts Did I say YOU were?

[@heida7357]

"All bad things include something good. Respect the bad and love the good." Words of wisdom from the FABULOUS Conchita!

[@tillydavvers]

She is incredible

[@ShelleyOurian]

Just when I thought I couldn't love Conchita any more than I do now...she's so great!

[@blueblue1891]

It's a DUDE you idiot.

[@Kleineganz]

I applaud the the man and the woman, and the message they are trying to share. Also I'm jealous that they look better in heels than I do!

[@ginchen33]

Conchita is simply wonderful, inside and out. Her message of respect and tolerance just resonates with me. I love Conchita Wurst!

[@victorlaszlo5867]

Was für eine ergreifende Rede.Conchita hat das Talent in die Politik zu gehen.Man hört ihr zu!!!!- Super gemacht Conchy

[@DanielaSparrow7]

@lucianturtoi Conchita has said everything she always says in every interview, and she is not reading, her words are from the heart and from her Experience! This is an important event, a very serious one, obviously she couldn't just talk informal, she had to have a speech. CONCHY YOU ARE AN AMAZING BRIGHTFUL PERSON !! keep stending for a better world! :') we love you

[@damiensvensson3131]

We are happy to have now a symbol of love, respect and tolerance !

[@matiss.3381]

respect the bad and love the good, hammer message!

[@coreycox2345]

This reminds me of my great uncle. He came back from the war and took a job traveling with the carny. Eventually, he owned the nickel digger game machines. My theory...he kept moving as a way to avoid coming out of the closet. Being gay was more likely to result in trouble then. When the bearded lady was ill, he stepped in as the replacement. Man, that guy told me some good stories when I was a kid.

[@pattyboda6403]

Shelley, I agree!

[@belledello6774]

The fact is, those trolling Conchita are equally as much a human as she is. They all have their own methods of expressing who they are as a person, regardless of labels or stereotypes. She is who she is as you are who you are.

[@cheryls_creative7048]

She's beautiful inside and out. We would do well to learn Tolerance and love from the lovely Conchita x

[@julietamariagomes5277]

E impressionante o equilíbrio em dizer pára o que Véio falando sobre a intolerância muito bom e👏👏👏👏🤗

[@unstoppable0611]

Thanks for sharing this footage. The reactions of some of the people here show that we are still a long distance from a future of love, respect and tolerance. Therefore: Go Conchita! I was a teenager at school when we first learned about Aids, so naturally it was a topic our teachers talked to us about and we were informed and cautioned (I remember we even had to write an essay as homework in German), but I don't think they passed it on to us as 'gay cancer', well at least not a disease that concerned only gay men.

[@MarkPMus]

Sir Elton John? Did he really sign himself sir?!? I'm loving Conchita right now. Well done.

[@MarkPMus]

+Everydaylina I know he did, I'm not that daft. I was commenting on the pompous-ness of actually signing oneself, Sir!

[@ganzblaueye]

I understand this to be about ugly things passed, digested and spit out. The ugly thing being (for example) a disease. Or a deception. Or simply the fact that love can fade and disappear. Or die. All of these disasters deserve (in the opinion of the speaker) to be followed by respect instead of hate. Respect for those that caused it to happen ... or, in the case of diseases, caused it to be cast in a particular discriminating light. Respect for those that suffered and survived ... or did not make it. And respect for whoever accepts the change in life and pursues happiness further. (And I am not going to address facial hair. Some things are best looked at for what they are. Case dismissed.)

[@oksanatuchina4112]

I think the point is "the ugly thing", the bad thing is a disease, and not the person who has it.

[@Titanikable]

Conchita for president!!!

[@palcsomeli]

UNSTOPPABLE LOVE!

[@rootboysupreme1]

Okay., this has taken this 'movement' to a WHOLE new level..., this is actually starting to get creepy/scary.

[@pimkamolprasertwongse8357]

She is a beautyful person, look so feminine Than me !

[@coreycox2345]

I like her. I am not wild about the feminine look with a beard. Why would a woman want to have a beard? Yet, she makes a striking figure. To each her own.

[@TheGoaBase]

Go Girl!

[@realdivabitch]

I think Conchita Wurst is nothing but an entertainer. His motives are very transparent to me and they are to become famous. He obviously isn't pursuing any type of job other than one in the entertainment business given his shocking appearance. In closing, I firmly think he is an attention seeker.

[@unstoppable0611]

Obviously the attention seeking works with you and lots of other people, so her way of tackling these issues proves to be successful. And just for your information: Conchita's alter Ego Tom has an education as a fashion designer, so he's not 'only' an entertainer. Shocking appearance? You must be living in a very one dimensional world if this is scary for you.

[@LAUREL5784]

TEDtalks, where did you go

[@SlyHUN22]

Ilyeneket szakadékba szoktak dobni ! :) OKÁDÉK !!!!!!!!

[@Fruity_Cutie]

Why are you all focusing on the negative?

[@archishmanrick8754]

Is it just me,or does he/she look like Kim Kardashian with a beard?Sorry for being out the context....I do admire him/her for her individuality

[@adolfosax509]

Ted usually I like Ted cause there are people who know their stuff and have invested much time to get on ted and deliver a good lecture, this here was a miss universe after speech about world peace and hunger and AIDS and how bad it is not to accept those who have it... ok all good.... now as a visionary, we can see the source of the problem and work on a solution. The source of the problem isn't people hating or misunderstanding the ones who have AIDS because of an unnatural sexual intercourse

[@user-jl1qu5hh2s]

Turn to me,please,on Russian.My proficiency in English does not allow details to translate, and I'm very interested.Thank you.

[@kaloskilo]

oh myyyy.... DE FUCK

[@PrograError]

Is he or she 's role model the Thai ladygirls?

[@michaelroberts7231]

Sorry, I won't tolerate you defiling your body. That's not loving. I will tell you that Gods grace is bountiful and His forgiveness is endless. Call upon Jesus for salvation.

[@rehmattanzila9811]

God!! She's so beautiful

[@vladimirspocuiko4595]

latvia COCHITA wuerssts

[@adipop5977]

[@barryh13]

Rambling, misguided, lack of insight and perhaps a dash of pretentiousness. She would do a better job sticking to her day job and leaving this to the experts and real campaigners... Drivel.

[@vladimirspocuiko4595]

sps teebe

[@biancavonmuhlendorf2608]

NWO

[@thekaerichtexas]

Please pick woman or man because that beard is just distracting. What the point of beautiful makeup and a damp beard. Gee lose the fuzz dude

[@Kleineganz]

He's making a point - that you can achieve success, no matter how you look. The beard is an integral part of his drag queen persona.

[@Johanna040713]

Jesus is the truth. Repent from your sins. This isn't hate.

[@lindsey0806]

Johanna040713 I'm not religeous but many people belive that god loves everyone and that the part of the bible that says being gay is wrong is part of the old amendment and doesn't need to be followed. Different people see it in different ways. Technically by the laws of the bible you're not wrong but, but also following the bible neither are they.

[@Johanna040713]

lindsey0806 According to New Testament God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. So if you identify yourself as a homosexual for example, you're welcome to God, but God says: "repent from your sins!" So there is a compromise, sort of. Everyone is loved by God, but everyone has to repent from their sinful ways. If you used to steal - don't steal anymore!, if you used to lie - don't lie anymore!, if you used to practice homosexual realtions - don't practice them anymore! etc. Everyone has to repent, people who indentify as homosexuals do not receive any special treatment in the eyes of God. God was born a man in the Son, Christ Jesus, atoned for our sins (also homosexual acts) on the cross and rose from the dead! Follow Him, repent form your sins, whoever you are.

[@lindsey0806]

Johanna040713 well her mum is heavily Catholic and loves her son and supports him as a drag queen and a gay man so obviously different people see the same religion differently.

[@lindsey0806]

Johanna040713 well her mum is heavily Catholic and loves her son and supports him as a drag queen and a gay man so obviously different people see the same religion differently.

[@Johanna040713]

lindsey0806 Not everyone who says they're Christian, really are. Being a Christian isn't just something random someone comes up with - it's obeying God in words and deeds.