Mr. Gay World is Underway in South Africa

By Melanie Nathan, April 05, 2012

The Mr. Gay World Competition is a  public performance where the delegates represent their nation as the best GAY spokesperson to embody the spirit of their nation and its not all about looks.

The  2012 competition is taking place in Johannesburg  from April 4th to 10th with an intense four days of events, that includes a photo challenge, sports , fashion show/run way , swim suit challenge, public speaking and a local outreach challenge where MGW is able to work with a local charity to give back to the community in hosting the competition.

Results will be announced at a live show on Easter Sunday at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre.

The Competitors seem to be having a good time in South Africa enjoying all that there is for tourists to do such as a safari adventure,

Mr. South Africa has taken the crown for the past two years. , This is the first year that three other African contestants are competing from countries where homosexuality is criminalized.

South Africa is onbe of the only Countries in the world to have a fully inclusive Constitution that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mr Gay World Africa director Coenie Kukkuk said at a conference at the Chapel of the Fairways Hotel and Spa that the pageant had kicked off without a hitch.

He attributed this to the fact that gay rights were enshrined in the constitution and had been for eighteen years in South Africa.

Very few countries in the world had legalized gay marriage, said Kukkuk, adding: “In places like Iran and Iraq LGBTI people receive the death penalty or are stoned to death.

“Even here in Africa, LGBTI people are persecuted by their own families. Mr Ethiopia comes from a wealthy family who disinherited him when they found out he was gay,” says Kukkuk.

LGBTI refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and communities.

Sunday’s Mr Gay World winner will receive a R50 000 cash prize. He will also be the official ambassador for the LGBTI community, his role being to educate the public on LGBTI issues

My personal Favorites who I have been voting for include Mr. Namibia and Mr. Ethiopia! Sorry SA but you have won twice in a row. Lance Weyers is a fantastic contestant and maybe even the best, a great role model.  But because it is also being held in SA I must declare FHB – “family hold back!”

For more on the Competition please go to http://www.mrgayworld.org/

You can cast your vote at – http://vote.mrgayworld.org/

http://www.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle/family/2012/04/05/mr-gay-world-to-be-announced-on-easter-sunday