Daniel Lazarus, the newly-crowned Mr Gay Namibia, said that he will use his title to bring about change in the lesbians, gay, bisexuals, transgender, and other (LGBTQI+).
“I entered Mr Gay Namibia because I want to make a difference that will last in our community and in our country with the help of my first and second runners-up. I’ll defend my community because my new role model is for all non-gender-conforming males and females in my community. I will be a voice for those who are voiceless. I’ll be the strength for the powerless, because we are a family,” he says.
Lazarus, who is twenty-years old, said that he was scared of what people would think and was afraid to be judged by his family.
“When I was in the pageant, the other contestants showed me that you need to be who you are and just be confident. As a Mr Gay Namibia contestant I learned that members of our community can work together and are stronger together. During the competition, we built a brotherhood and this has taught me the importance of teamwork and patience,” Lazarus says.
Lazarus stated that he would like to see the LGBTQI+ organizations at the forefront of his reign.
Lazarus, the only child of a single mom, grew up in Windhoek as an aunt and uncle.
He said that when he revealed his sexuality in 2019, nobody was there except two strangers. He says that it was difficult to publicly declare his homosexuality, especially for his family.
“It was the hardest time of my life because my family did not look at me the same anymore. Yes, some family members accepted the change while others weren’t. I went to the doctor to get more male hormones to make me more masculine. Two Ausspannplatz guys were the ones who supported me at that time. They offered me food, bedding and shelter,” he says.
Lazarus claims he discovered he was gay in Grade 8 when he had a crush upon a boy he didn’t know.
Lazarus advises those who are still hiding sexuality not to be afraid.
“Don’t be afraid of your family, friends or society. It is important that you are true to yourself and happy. Don’t waste your life trying to be what others want. You’re strong and you’ve a community that is ready to stand by you,” he says.
Lazarus will represent Namibia at the Mr Gay World contest, Cape Town this month. This contest allows delegates from all over the world to show their compassion, diversity, and philanthropy.
The annual Mr Gay World competition seeks ambassadors for the international LGBTQ+ community. It is open to all delegates and represents the spirit of the nation.
The grand finale will take place at Cape Town’s Artscape Opera House, 15 October.
“I’m thrilled to be representing Namibia in the Mr Gay World contest. I learned a lot from this experience and want to learn more. On top of the list for me is how other contestants from other countries faced or tackled homophobia, and I want to apply the same principles to my own country,” he says.
Source: namibian
