Conchita Wurst performs live on stage during the 64th annual Eurovision Song Contest held at Tel Aviv Fairgrounds on May 18, 2019 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Michael Campanella/Getty)

The Hungarian government has hit back at claims that the country pulling out of the Eurovision Song Contest because its too gay.

According toThe Guardian, a pro-government TV station called the competition a homosexual flotilla earlier this year and said not taking part would benefit the nations mental health, while this week asource inside the local public broadcasterMTVA said media heads believe the contest is too gay.

The source said that Eurovisions well-documented links with the LGBT+ community are the reason the country will not compete in 2020.

But according to Shaun Walker, the Guardian journalist who originally wrote the story, MTVA responded by saying the claims were outrageous and unacceptable.

The statement continued: These press statements about ones sexual orientation violate human dignity, journalism ethics and rule of laws.

The professional decision has been made that instead of attending the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020, directly the talents of the Hungarian pop music and their valuable performances will be supported.

We want to lay down that ones sexual orientation is not being considered at any performance or event.

Walker, commenting on the statement on Twitter, said: Could be all kinds of reasons for not sending Hungarian singers to Eurovision but because we decided to directly support them hardly makes sense.

And given the current rhetoric around LGBT issues, and that people inside the channel assume its the gay issue, a legitimate story.

But nice use of the Were not homophobic, youre homophobic for suggesting it defence.

Zoltn Kovcs, Hungarys Secretary of State for International Communication, also denied the claims.

He wrote on Twitter: What are you talking about? This is shameless muckraking, gossip from your liberal press organs.

Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orbn, has been one of Europes most powerful right-wing leaders since 2010.

In 2016 he was condemned by MEPs over his decision to block a Europe-wide agreement on LGBT rights, and in invited an anti-LGBT+ US hate group to hold its annual conference in the country.

At the conference, Orbn said: Its a national interest to restore natural reproduction. Not one interest among others but the only one. Its a European interest too. It is the European interest.

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Hungarian government hits back over claims country is pulling out of Eurovision because its too gay - PinkNews