Mr Gay World incoming for Namibia Pride Week – Namibian
SOUTH Africa’s Louw Breytenbach, the reigning Mr Gay World 2021, is set to add some international glamour to the calendar as Namibia Pride Week welcomes him as the Pride parade’s grand marshal.
Joining Namibia Pride Week from 27 November to 4 December as a special guest, Breytenbach is the first Mr Gay World to visit the country, and the first African winner in a decade.
“Africa hasn’t had a title holder in 10 years and I’m hoping part of my advocacy will include greater work within the African continent to further the idea of equality and inclusion,” says Breytenbach.
“My advocacy as a Mr Gay World title holder is strongly focused on mental health and suicide prevention of especially teenagers and younger adults in the LGBTQI+ community.”
No stranger to some of the issues affecting LGBTQI+ people in Namibia, Breytenbach, an ambassador for Out and Proud Namibia, recently published a statement expressing his disappointment in the home affairs ministry’s decision to appeal a judgment confirming the citizenship of Yona Delgado Lühl, the child of a local same sex couple born through surrogacy.
“It saddens me to have learnt that the home affairs ministry reaffirmed its regressive stance by announcing it would not accept the court’s decision,” said Breytenbach in his statement.
“This is reason for great concern as the world is watching Namibia with the same bated breath South Africa had held on to not too long ago, when we ourselves removed laws that discriminate based on race, religion and sexual orientation,” he said.
Intent on advocating absolute equality for everyone, Breytenbach recognises the need for events like Namibia Pride week as tools to foster inclusivity, celebrate wins and to assess how far there still is to go to create an equal and fair society for all.
“Movements like Namibia Pride Week are so important because they lend a voice to diversity and inclusivity,” says Breytenbach.
“I encourage all Namibian citizens who believe in equality and fairness to come and support this movement,” he says.
“It is not just about gay rights. It is about human rights and it is about love being a stronger driving force than hate.”
Namibia Pride Week will take place from 27 November to 4 December at various venues in Windhoek. Follow Equal Namibia on social media for the full calendar of events.
– [email protected]; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com