Kenyans ‘bullied’ out of the 2012 World Gay crown

Kenya’s hopes of making an appearance at the Gay World title in South Africa were dashed when three Kenyan contestants dropped out.

Denis Nzioka, Kenya’s gay rights leader said nobody should have been intimidated for representing Kenya.

“Perhaps next year, the gay community will actually send someone to Mr Gay Contest,” he said.

Mr Nzioka said two gays from Kisumu and Thika had shown interest in participating in the contest.

“I have written to them on Facebook to find out who was intimidated due to homophobia but they are yet to get back to me,” he said

Mr Nzioka said members have also been afraid to participate in such shows like Big Brother Africa because of the backlash they would get back in the country after the contest.

“But what I would like to tell you is that we will organize security for those who would want to be our good ambassador in the contest next year,” he said.

Among the prizes on offer are a Sh2,215,000, travel voucher to allow the winner to travel and share the minority’s message.

Only three Africans participated in the annual contest for gay men after contestants from Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya dropped out for various reasons ranging from intimidation to government pressure and lack of funding.

None of the other competing black Africans (Lance Weyer, placed second is white) were placed in the top ten after judges picked the winner based on categories that included sportswear, swimsuit, fashion and public speaking.

It was the first time that the event, which debuted in 2009, had been held in Africa, which is known for its intolerance of sexual minorities with the “offence” punishable by death in a clutch of countries.

Gay marriages

South Africa remains the only country in the region that allows gay marriages.

Namibian entrant Wendelinus Hamutenya was disappointed after also missing out on the title.

But news agencies reported that he believed an attack that landed him in hospital last year was a mugging and not a hate crime.

Hamutenya said he would return to Windhoek “for gay rights and human rights” and hoped that his country would be the second to recognise the rights of sexual minorities.

Ethiopia’s contestant, student Robel Hailu, came in for sustained criticism after his participation became public, with his family reportedly cutting links with him.

Zimbabwe’s Taurai Zhnaje, whose mother is a civil servant, had to withdraw following suffocating pressure from the government.

His country’s President, Robert Mugabe, is known for his strong disdain for gays, whom he regularly refers to as “sodomists” and “perverts.”

And South Africa’s hopes of making it three in a row were Sunday night dashed after German Andreas Derleth won the Mr Gay World title at this year’s event in Johannesburg.

The country’s representative, Democratic Alliance Weyer, placed second in the four-day competition after compatriots Charl van den Berg and Francois Nel had in 2010 and 2011 respectively bagged the global title.

Thirty-two-year-old Derleth, who edged out 21 other contestants, lives and works as a stationery store manager in New Zealand.

Organisers said they believed the four-day contest could change Africa’s homophobia.

“It’s the search for a global ambassador who can represent human rights,” said Coenie Kukkuk, the contest’s Africa director. “Beautiful men yes, but beautiful with a purpose,” he added.

“The delegate chosen to represent his peers on a global stage will not only have the inner beauty of confidence, self-assurance, charisma and natural leadership abilities but he will also take care in his outward beauty,” the organisation adds on its website.

Additional reports by Peter Ngetich