The unedifying spectacle of gay men acting like something from a 1950s Doris Day movie continued over the weekend with the "Mr Gay Europe" beauty contest.
Yes, in 2007 some gay men do still think the highest level of achievement they can attain is to look slightly better in a pair of pants than another gay man.
Well done to everyone who took part - Boy George was, naturally, on hand to award the trophy.
Some German guy won it, then said how he felt so honoured to be a 'role model' - presumably he meant 'underwear model' but there you go.
Have a giggle at the press release:
Jackson Netto from Germany is Mr. Gay Europe 2007!
Budapest August 2, 2007: It was Jackson Netto (25) from Germany who Saturday evening took home the crown of Mr. Gay Europe in the building of the Hungarian State Circus in Budapest, hosted by the fabulous Desiré Dubounet. 21 Delegates from The Canary Islands in the south to Lapland in the north were all in the battle for the crown.
From the 21 Delegates, they were narrowed down to 12 semi finalists: Mr Gay Swim Wear: Jackson Netto (Germany) and the online voted The People’s Choice: Stefan Onland from The Netherlands and the judges then selected Jon Rice (Ireland), Emanuel (Romania) Jens Taghon (Belgium), Marius Svela (Norway), who Thursday also won the No. 1 Talent, Diego Gerolimi (Italy), Eugeniu (Moldova), Mikey Robinson, (Northern Ireland) and Mark Carter (United Kingdom) and Leonardo Luiz Murilo (Gran Canaria)
United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany went on to a super final, where Germany took home the crown!
The judges were: Nathan Shaked, The International Mr. Gay, representing Israel, The supermodel Viktoria Vamos who has been the face of some of the largest fashion houses in Europe, Csaba Kajdi, the owner of one of Europe’s largest and most successful modelling agencies with offices in Budapest and Paris, both representing Hungary, Brian Merriman, Artistic Director of the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival, and Executive Producer of Mr Gay Ireland and Mr Gay Northern Ireland, the performer Brad Vee Johnson, former singer with the international group Boney M, representing Romania, and finally Martha Wash of The Weather Girls, representing the United States of America. The presenters were Adam Webb and Patricia Piringer and among the performers were Russian circus performer and the incomparable Martha Wash singing of course “It’s Raining Men for the grande finale complete with fireworks, water fountains and the happy finalists dancing!
The Delegates themselves chose Lev Dermota from Slovenia as Mr Congeniality or as the most sympathetic among the candidates themselves in a rose ceremony. And Deam Ladányi of Hungary was given a special Desiré Dubounet honour for being a good host for his fellow Delegates.
Jackson, is 25 years old and from the city of Stuttgart and is currently studying in Liverpool. “When I was a child I used to be overweight. At the age of 15 I lost 25 kilos of weight, took care of my nutrition and did sports to keep in shape. To be able to enter the Mr Gay Europe competition was be a huge step for me, a great reward for the effort and discipline that I’ve had all these years. To be honest it is a dream come true.
I’ve lived 12 years in India and 12 years in Germany. Currently I’m doing my studies in the United Kingdom. I’ve been able to learn and experience a lot in all these different cultures. And I know how important it is for people to have role models to hold on to, to feel comfortable with their sexuality and to be proud of themselves for what they are. It is a great honour for me to represent the gay community”, says Jackson Netto, the new Mr. Gay Europe.
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