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Eric Butter is the president of both Mr. Gay Europe and Mr. Gay World and he doesn’t like drama? Come on!
Eric Butter is the president of two international Mr. Gay competitions; Mr. Gay World and Mr. Gay Europe. He originally comes from Latin-America, however today he residence and has his business in Sydney, Australia. No wonder Mr. Eric Butter sees himself as a citizen of the world.
So who is this man who thinks he can gather together the whole world to one big gay nation?
Well, he claims to be a self made man that is living his dream. He also argues that he easily materialize his thoughts if he keeps focused. Being an entrepreneur he is also known to enjoy the sweet things in life.
- I am a hard worker yet a gentleman of leisure. If I apply myself I can easily make things happen and make my dreams come true. I am an easy going guy but not necessarily with my feet on the ground, but then again if you don’t have a vision and a dream you are not really alive. I like to be hassle free and I hate dramas.
Says the man who organizes two international gay pageants – hassle free and no drama – man, get real! The question that pops up next is only one word: Why?
- It’s a long life dream you see. As a struggling young gay man that I was, I didn’t grow up with a positive gay role model. I thought that it would be nice to have a role model that I could look up to, like any young man looks up to a soccer player or a basketball player, but I thought I needed that missing factor, the gay factor.
Since I was a teenager I wanted to create a Mr. Gay competition. I thought that this would be a good way to put on a search throughout the whole world and find that positive role model, to discover that we gay men are not alone. My first thoughts of doing such competition started back in 1986; I was only 14 years old. I wanted to create a worldwide competition. But then in high school I got completely sidetracked with my studies and forgot the whole idea, I personally believe that applying yourself and getting an education is the only way to make a difference.
After high school I went to Pharmacy school and then went on to get my master's degree in Business Administration. Once I felt myself on track, I pursued my other dream, which was flying aero planes. I went to a private flying school for two years where I got my Commercial Pilot's license and a Diploma in Aviation with Flight Instruction.
After that, once I felt on track once again, having fulfilled my childhood dreams I thought it was time to go for that other dream that I always had, it was to create that Mr. Gay competition that had been waiting for me for so long. I looked into it and found out that it already existed in the USA and I approached the producer and decided to join him. Things did not work out as I wanted to, but on the other hand, thanks to that I had the immense luck to meet Mr. Tore Aasheim and Mr. Dean Nelson. Together with them and with support from a lot of national producers I created the Mr. Gay World Competition.
It happened to be that Mr. Tore Aasheim was the co-owner of the well established Mr. Gay Europe Competition. I admired his work and that of Mr. Morten Ruda. I felt it was a clean and impeccable brand. I was asked to invest in their organization in 2009. I agreed, but then I felt I should take that one step further, and I decided to buy into the Mr. Gay Europe Competition. It’s about expanding and putting the word out there.
- But in a time with credit crunch and all, and working with this very specific target group; people are not throwing money after you, are they?
- You mean why do I spend money, time and effort? I do it because I’m very passionate, I truly believe in this cause. These competitions are a true vehicle and great ventures to bring together gay men from all over the world, to meet and share their stories.
Every single gay man has a story, it’s a great way to put the word out there that we are gay, and we are here to stay. We are like any other man in any part of the world, we are no different. These competitions are a great way to take the world stage and mainstream media and educate people all over the world of what gay men really are, break down stereotypes.
The more we expand thru to every corner of the globe the better; we will educate everyone that there is nothing wrong with being gay. Those who live and grew up in a free country might not understand this, but this message goes to the majority of people in all those cultures and countries were being gay is a taboo.
- Come on, be honest, this is a great way of getting to know a lot of hot guys, right?
- You are saying "Hot guys", hot guys being physically attractive gifted men, to me physical beauty is skin deep. It fades away, I get used to it and no matter what my eye gets used to it, and i don’t see it anymore, the personality, manners, idiosyncrasy, and morals prevail.
At the beginning, yes I admit it is easy to get mesmerized by a man's physical appearance but later on, you stop looking at that, you get bored, what keeps you going is the human warmth, the drive, the passion in this men.
I don’t think is a great way to know hot guys, is a great way to get to know brave men that have a story to share and thru this way find that role model that could make a difference that someone can look up to, that someone is that young gay boy growing up in less privileged countries and societies, or even a closeted older man in a free society, scared to face what people would think only because he is gay.
- Is there a difference between a Mr. Gay World and a Mr. Gay Europe?
- To me the difference is that the world competition has the power to reach the whole planet earth, while the European competition is catered only for Europe. My motto is "Lead by Example”. With the media reach nowadays, the European competition can set the example, and the rest would follow.
Having such competition it could promote other gay competitions all around the world. Don’t forget that Europe is the leader in many fields. Again, Lead by Example.
- Both Mr. Gay World and Mr. Gay Europe is staged as beauty pageants, still you have said that you don't like the competitions to be just that?
- These competitions are more than just that. You are thinking how heterosexuals think, they have their beauty pageants that used to don’t go any further than that, it has been like that for years and now little by little they are changing their statement, but we are different with our competitions, we are making our own statement, we are a minority and thru these competitions we can show the world who we are.
Unfortunately, you must admit, we live in a world and in a society where looks are very important, sometimes looks are everything. If we put our message and statement in a nice wrapping people no matter what will look, we are definitely going to get the interest and eyes of many, many people.
- Why does a guy from South-America, living in Australia, want to work with Mr. Gay Europe?
- Please don’t forget that I consider myself a citizen of the world. I absolutely love Europe. Europe has been a leader in many fields for many years, and since I’m a true believer of "lead by example" I like to look up to European culture, society, way of thinking and idiosyncrasy.
- You are now the President of the two original Mr. Gay competitions, the pan-European Mr. Gay Europe and the global Mr. Gay World, what do you see as the most important mission for these events?
- It is to put our message out there and educate the ignorant, we are human beings sharing this planet, we are no different, and we are no freaks. Look at us, we can perfectly be your son, your brother, your uncle, your accountant, lawyer, landscaper, farmer, it does not make us any different only because of our sexual orientation. We want to bring together gay men from all over the world and show that indeed us gay men are in every corner of the world, being homosexual does not discriminate against any race, religion, culture or political background. We are gay and accept us just like we are because we are all over the world and we deserve to be treated equal and be free to be ourselves.
- With success comes also jealousy and copy-cats - does this bother you?
- Jealousy is ok I can handle it as long as it doesn’t harm me, affect me or if it doesn’t turn nasty or dangerous. With copy cats, yes, it bothers me at the first instance, but then I feel flattered that this copy cat thought I was so good they decided to copy me.
The same way I’ve been approached by talented, honest and gifted people, I’ve also been approached by opportunist lying hypocrites and that something for nothing. I’m constantly learning.
- You have been traveling quite a lot lately; you have been in Oslo for Mr. Gay World 2010 - what was your experience with this Nordic capital?
I love Oslo. Love its natural beauty, the culture and indeed love the snow. People were very friendly and efficient. In the other hand, I was bit disappointed with the gay community. It seems that having all the rights and all the freedom it is easy to forget that there are still guys out there struggling for equal rights and the right to love someone without being bullied, discriminated or even killed.
- The first Mr. Gay World took place in Whistler, Canada and the second in Oslo, Norway, but next year you will be traveling to warmer climate?
- Oh, yes we will be traveling to the Philippines and I am really looking forward to that. Our national producer is doing an amazing job. Mr. Gay Europe in Geneva this fall is also going to fabulous. The Delegates from all over Europe will take part in a very special event in this international metropolitan city of Switzerland.
How is a perfect Mr. Gay Delegate according to the president? Is there any special Delegates he remembers especially? And what was this about the argument with Miss World? Do you want to know more about this? Check back later for the rest of the interview with Mr. Eric Butter.
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Photos by Simon Lee.
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