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Adolescence is always a difficult time in a man's life. It becomes almost impossible when you love someone of the same sex.
As Hafid Aggoune, the famous poet, once said «Adolescence is the time when you choose between life or death». And the figures are terrifying when you look about gay teen suicides. Feelings of shame, guilt, fear to be rejected, dangerous behaviour, the list is long. Who is responsible? Familly? Medias? Society? Religion?
Every sociologist will agree, a teen need models to build himself, someone he can identify with and recognize himself in his values.
What model for European gay youth? The answer is Mr. Gay Europe!
Contrary to many beauty contests, Mr. Gay Europe does not only select a good looking man, the competition put the emphasis on men involved in the gay community and wanting to help LGBT rights to go further on the continent.
Since 2005, the Mr. Gay Europe contest takes place every year in a European city. Delegates are elected through a fair and transparent national process. They stand for their differences and do not hesitate to say out loud what many gay people only whisper.
Mr. Gay Europe is therefore a model for the European gay youth, which can then identify in him, find the courage to stand for who they are, fight against homophobia and intolerance and live their lifes the way they want.
Besides, Mr. Gay Europe is involve to help LGBT rights to go further in Europe. Protection against disciminations, civil partnership, mariage, adoption or just simply rights to equality, Mr. Gay Europe is the spokesman of the gay community at the European level. And this community really needs this help, specially in time of crisis like today where politicians have no hesitations to stigmatise and accuse gays and lesbians to be responsible for some society problems.
But Mr. Gay Europe is also a true chain of solidarity between European gays. The situation is indeed very different if you are gay in Sweden or in Greece. The battle for equality is a European and international battle.
As the competititon goes above the national level, Mr. Gay Europe can then represent all gays in Europe and not only his national community. He can then benefit of a stronger support and have an impact in the less tolerant countries.
Model for the youth, involved in the gay community and spokesman of gay in Europe, Mr. Gay Europe is not only usefull, he is a real necessity to answer to and face some issues that the gay community is confronted to in Europe to go further.
Next Mr. Gay Europe contest on September in Geneva!
By Benjamin Ladc
Photo: Cover picture from the French movie "You'll get over it" (A cause d'un garçon) which deals with issues about gay youth. |
