The announcement of who would win the bid to host Mr Gay world 2015 was made during the grand finale of the 2014 competition on Saturday night in Rome, Italy, in which 32 delegates from around the world competed for the coveted title.
South Africa previously successfully hosted the event in Johannesburg in 2012. The latest bid was mounted by the organisers of the annual Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival, and sees the country becoming the first-ever to host the event twice.
The week-long Mr Gay World™ 2015 contest will coincide with next year’s Globeflight Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival Knysna 2015 in association with TRIARC & MRGSA. It will be held in both Knysna and Cape Town, with the grand finale taking place in the Mother City on Sunday 3 May 2015.
"We're honoured and humbled to have been chosen to once again host this prestigious event, which will highlight lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) inequality on the continent," said Pink Loerie's John O’Neil.
"South Africa and the Western Cape have abundant natural beauty that's hard to beat anywhere else in the world, and we have the infrastructure, experience and talent to make the event a truly memorable one," he added.
Coenie Kukkuk, Mr Gay World™ Director for Africa & Middle East, congratulated the bid committee. “We are confident that South Africa will once again deliver a world-class, yet uniquely African, experience for the delegates, judges and grand finale audience,” he said.
The successful bid was proudly backed by Globeflight Worldwide Courier Services; TRIARC, Africa’s first specialist LGBTI insurance provider; Mr Gay South Africa (Pty) Ltd; Knysna Tourism; Knysna Municipality and Wesgro, Cape Town and the Western Cape’s official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency.
About Pink Loerie
The Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival is an annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) culture and identity and takes place in the picturesque town of Knysna. Now in its 15th year, the festival hosts a series of cultural, entertainment and community fundraising events. The Globeflight Pink Loerie Mardi Gras & Arts Festival Knysna 2015 in association with TRIARC & MRGSA will take place from Wednesday 29 April to Sunday 3 May 2015.
Sponsor & Media Enquiries:
John O’Neil
Sponsors & Logistics
Email: john@pinkloerie.co.za
Cell: 083 347 9570
Karin Septhon
Admin
Email: karin@pinkloerie.co.za
Cell: 082 920 5142
Mambaonline
Media
Email: luiz@mambaonline.com
Cell: 083 653 7577