United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised Eurovision drag queen Conchita Wurst Monday for the gay singer's fight against discrimination and intolerance.

The singer's onstage persona was created by Tom Neuwirth, a 25-year-old male Austrian singer. She won the 2014 song contest for Austria in May.

The U.N. Secretary said she turned the event in Austria into a moment of human rights education showing her fight for diversity and tolerance. The event, often derided for its kitsch performances, became a spotlight for her fight.

The entertainer sported her famous beard trademark with a demure dress and black heels.

Ban hosted her for the U.N. event, while she shook hands and joked with him and sang for hundreds of cheering officials and diplomats at the United Nations complex in Vienna.

"This year I extended benefits to same-sex partners of U.N. staff members... Discrimination has no place in the United Nations," Ban said to a room filled officials and diplomats.

Many of them stood around after the event to get a picture with the famous Wurst and an autograph.

"When I heard that she won this Eurovision song contest I immediately knew that she was a star of the world," Ban said, referring to why he picked Wurst for the host of the show at the U.N.

The song contest was shown to a TV audience of about 180 million in 45 countries.

She said, "I share the opinion that this was not a victory just for me but for the people who believe in a future that works without discrimination and is based on tolerance and respect. This transcends borders."

Yet her victory was condemned by some social conservatives as promoting gay rights.

Wurst said to Ban and the audience, "You just can be respected if you respect others."

She won the 2014 contest with the song titled "Rise Like A Phoenix."