NORWAY: Chinese man takes part in Mr Gay 2010 despite Beijing's attempts to block his participation

Record ID: 277195

  • Title: NORWAY: Chinese man takes part in Mr Gay 2010 despite Beijing's attempts to block his participation
  • Date: 14th February 2010
  • Summary: JONSSON ON STAGE
  • Embargoed: 1st March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Norway
  • Country: Norway
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVADNFFNAFCF8QKEQMN07T1VI5H4
  • Story Text: Nearly two dozen men from five continents sashayed down the stage of an Oslo club on Saturday (February 13), competing to be crowned Worldwide Mr Gay, the winner of an international pageant for gay men.
    The crowd hooted and cheered as contestants, wearing hotpants, feathered headdresses or cowboy outfits, did their best to woo the eight-judge panel.
    The aim of the event was to find a global role model for young men coming to terms with their sexual orientation.
    Judge Eric Butter said he hoped the pageant will show that is it alright to be gay, and make it easier for the younger generation and their parents.
    Despite legal changes in many countries allowing same-sex couples to marry or adopt children, many homosexuals around the world face discrimination, harassment or imprisonment.
    Six contestants, from countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, chose not to travel to Norway for fear of harassment at home.
    Mr. Gay China was chosen in a secret competition after authorities raided the venue where the selection was to have taken place in January. Authorities said the event did not have a proper license.
    Mr. Gay China said he could face trouble with Chinese authorities when he returned home, but nevertheless travelled to Norway to be an example to others.
    "I am quite worried about what will happen when I go back to China. My friends in China said to me that they hoped for the best, but it was possible that the authorities will exert pressure on me. In the worst case, they will limit my freedom of action, probably take away my passport, so that I cannot travel abroad later," Xiaodai Muyi said.
    He was able to travel to Norway thanks to a rushed visa delivery from the Norwegian Embassy.
    China has a troublesome gay rights record. Homosexuality was illegal until 1997, and classified by the Chinese government as a mental illness until 2001.
    Beijing and Shanghai now have a thriving gay scenes despite periodic police raids.
    Other contestants said it was easy to be openly gay in their country.
    "In Iceland we are really lucky because you are allowed to get married there now, and you can also adopt babies. We have boys and girls of 15-year-olds coming out of the closet now at schools, without hesitation. So that's pretty good," said the contestant from Iceland, Magnus Jonsson.
    "We have our first female prime minister who is also openly gay and she's the first one in the world to take that step," Jonsson said.
    The event, originally called Mr. Gay World, has faced many problems. Saturday's event in Oslo is the second edition of the pageant.
    After receiving complaints from organisers of Miss World pageant over the use of the "World" label, the competition was renamed Worldwide Mr. Gay.
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