The LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/ transsexual and intersex) community is coming together in style for the annual Mr and Miss Gay Retreat 2018.
At the pageant, that will be held at Grassy Park civic centre this Friday July 27, a new king and queen will be crowned to represent the greater Retreat’s LGBTI community for the next year.
The competition, which has been running since 2000, is a beauty pageant for transgender women, drag queens and gay men and anyone is welcome to take part.
Former contestant and 2010 pageant winner, Clive Jacobs, said the sought after title has been a part of the community for the past 18 years and is very popular.
“It was started to garner support from the broader community and as healthy competition among the LGBTI community.”
The Miss Gay competition was on a hiatus for four years from 2011 but was restarted in 2015 under new directorship.
Co-director Denino Ensil restarted the pageant in 2015 with husband Hilton Majiet because there was a demand for it. “People were asking why there wasn’t a pageant any longer and were adamant that it should be restarted. My partner and I decided to give the people what they want and host the event,” he said.
Hilton said it was important for them to restart the pageant to showcase the talents of the LGBTI community. “We want to show our talent and we wanted to restart it as a plight for the community to support us and to encourage other LGBTI people to feel inclusive and to get rid of whatever stigmas there might be about us,” he said.
Clive said previously the LGBTI community had difficulty being accepted in the community. “With pageants, netball competitions and interacting with us people have become more accepting of us and that is what we strive for with this competition. We’ve come a long way with regards to the attitude towards the gay community. This pageant is a platform to showcase who we are,” he said.
All the previous title holders will be present on the evening and this year’s competition will have swimwear and evening wear categories.
Those in attendance at Grassy Park civic centre on Friday can expect glitz, glamour, vibrant colours, acts and entertainment from Angel Lalamore, Jada Pinket Smith, MC Eon Von Diamond and a secret judge.
Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm. Tickets are R60. Take your own drinks and platters. For more information, call pageant co-director Dino on 061 358 2262.