Loading ...- Category:
- Community, News
- Author:
- Ani Lamont
- Posted:
- Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Related articles
He’s not a Republican and he’s not a Democrat, but Benjamin Edwards is the ultimate winner and Sydney’s chosen representative for the upcoming Mr Gay national titles.
Edwards was the unanimous choice of the judging panel at the Flinders Hotel last Friday night, the Maroubra boy impressing with his long resume of community service and involvement.
The mechanic-come-philosophy student, who is a member of the world champion Convicts rugby team and a keen surfer, will now compete in the finals of Mr Gay Australia, alongside runner-up Stuart Rayment, in the hope of winning his way through to the Mr Gay World competition.
The national final will be held at the Flinders on November 21 from 7pm, with Mr Gay World taking place in Whistler, Canada in February next year.
The competition was very tough. There were a lot of knowledgeable and honourable contestants in the competition, but I think my strongest attribute was that I’m just very down to earth, Edwards told Sydney Star Observer.
I guess you’d say that I’m a bloke first, who just happens to be gay. But at the same time I’m very heavily involved in the community.
The competition had not been on Edwards’ radar until a friend pointed out that he might have a chance of winning, enabling him to stand up as a role model to younger men -” which is exactly what Edwards intends to do, if voted Mr Gay Australia.
I think it’s really important for young people to have a role model that says you can be whatever you want to be. You don’t have to label yourself as anything or put yourself in a particular box just because you are gay, he said.
To me, it’s not important that I win. This has really reinforced my sense of self and that the community does want the same things as I do. So it’s not about me winning. What is important is that the person who does win is really someone who represents the community and what they want.
info: Mr. Gay Australia will be held at the Flinders Hotel on Friday November 21. For more details head to http://users.on.net/~flindershotel/index.html
Tags: Ben Edwards, convicts, Flinders Gotel, Mr Gay Australia, Mr Gay Sydney, Stuart Rayment
