Mr Gay UK returns home after being crowned Mr Gay World
The title of Mr Gay World has been brought home to the UK after the competition took place in Italy over the weekend.
Stuart Hatton, previously crowned Mr Gay UK went to the continent to represent the UK at the Mr Gay World competition which took place at the weekend.
Hatton, a dance teacher from South Shields, was also named second runner up at Mr Gay Europe, and was then invited to enter the global competition.
The 28-year-old is the first UK contestant to win the title, and beat 25 challengers from a variety of countries.
As well as modelling challenges, contestants were made to take part in “the hardest job interview in the world”, and were tested on global LGBT rights issues.
The moment Stuart Hatton was announced as Mr Gay World
Commenting on the fact that some competitors were not granted visas to attend the competition due to the nature of the award, he said: “The fact that some of my fellow delegates were banned from competing shows just how much work there is yet to do… We could easily treat this as simply a light hearted bit of fun but there are countries in the world where gay people could be jailed or even sentenced to death just for being themselves.”
Hatton will now be an advocate for gay rights, is launching an anti-bullying campaign called ”So What?” and will visit countries including America, Australia and South Africa as part of his new role.
“I am now able to use my voice to help those in countries around the world who have no voice or equality rights,” he said. “We are all human, and all gay people around the world deserve the same human rights. This is just the beginning.”
