Hi M – that is the reason why regionals are held – to choose the best all-rounders. Beauty and brains.

As it does every year,accusations of ‘racism’ against Mr. GSA always rear their ugly heads. We will address this issue immediately and now and not discuss it again. Please also note that work for Mr. GSA is voluntary and we do not get paid for it. The competition does not show a profit and barely breaks even – there was actually a shortfall last year. Keep that in mind.

The racism issue – we bend over backwards to get non-European candidates. We even go so far as to publicly say that, many times and bearing the brunt from the white community that we are practicing reverse racism. I personally invited literally nearly 100 if not more non-white guys. THEY JUST DO NOT ENTER. Reasons are many – backlash from families, not out at work, not out to family, fear etc – all legitimate reasons.

Further:

1. Lots of time is spend inviting non-white participants to enter. We also invite white guys who we think have merit, but much ore time is spent on trying to canvass non-white guys. This is not part of the description of our duties – to beg guys to enter, but we do it anyhow.
2. Iggy Mnisi, a finalist in 2009, came 3rd in 2009. He has also acted there after as a judge in 2010 and 2011, mos recently at the Gauteng Regional Finals on Sat. 27 Aug 2011.
3. There are black judges at every regional, and at the Grand Finale. We could not find a black judge yet for the cruise, although we are negotiating, for the simple and plain reason that there are NO black persons of whom we know that have booked for the cruise. We are at this moment negotiating to pay for one to be on the cruise, with funds we do not have yet. There was a black judge on the cruise last year.
3. Two VERY important positions in the organisation last year (the only other outside positions being choreographer and director), namely main designer (Luiz Delaja) and photographer (Thabo Kunutu) were black.
(cont)

Part 2:
4. Our black participation was only 11% in 2009. In 2011 it was 30,1%. This due to behind the scenes work like people at Simply Blue and at Radio Outspoken etc on our request. We do not do that for whites. We have enough of them. Further, ALL contestants in KZN were black, there was a not a white in sight. We did not go out and canvass to find a white candidate as we have enough in the other provinces.
5. I have said many times that there is no reason that a black guy can not be Mr GSA and in time they will emerge. They have as I predicted – Tshepo Chuenyane won the biggest regional, Gauteng last year – and second? Shannon Rex who is coloured. Due to them winning, two white sponsors withdrew their sponsorships and said that the results were cooked for a political agenda. We never ever touch results. We have FOUR director’s choices that we can choose – why bother with regional results? to add to that, we have no black sponsors. And not through a lack of trying! Our judges will not choose a winner just because he is black – they are all leaders from the community – members of activist groups such as Iggy Mnisi and Frank Malaba and members from the media and activist organisations who will very quickly act if they see a hint of racism. They will still choose THE BEST candidate. We have won Mr. Gay World twice in a row – that speaks for itself. We want to win it again with the best candidate – of whatever colour.
6. Of the four director’s choices in 2011, three are non-white as they did not make the top 12. That is the main reason we are now taking 15 to the final. MORE expenses, more plane tickets one
more cabin of more than R12 000 on the cruise – we now have to go back to all the clothing sponsors etc et and beg for 3 more suits, 3 more sets of clothing from Bone Wear for the cruise and final (they also do a Bone Wear scene in the final where they dress the guys fully), more pictures, more headaches.
7. There are a handful of guys who all participated in the regionals who have not paid one cent of the entry fee. We allowed them to participate, because participation is more important than money. Coincidentally, they are all non-white. Such grace was not extended to white candidates which is actually very unfair.

Again, we can not force black guys to enter. We are putting in every effort to raise the percentages and have succeeded to get it up from 11% in 2009 to over 30% in 2011.

Our efforts will continue.

MR. GAY SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.

wow, how easy it is for one to judge. sitting behind your keyboard. you try and do something like this. that is why we will never be accepted, gay people are to judgemental!!!