17c起草社区

Max Appenroth, a trans activist and diversity consultant has been named听 Mr Gay Germany for 2021.听Appenroth, 35, won the title Monday at Cologne鈥檚 Queer Christmas听 market, Heavenue Cologne, and is the first trans man to win the title.听听

Appenroth won over six other contestants who were vying for the title.听

鈥淭his is just such a big symbolic effect for the trans community. I as a trans听 person, as the first Mr. Gay Germany – that is absolutely amazing,鈥澨� Appenroth said after his win.听听

Prior to his win, Appenroth posted on Instagram saying, “To be in the final听 now means so much to me! The first time that a trans person is in the听 preliminary round and now even in the final. I am proud of my performance听 this weekend and look forward to the next chapter in this adventure.”听

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Mr Gay World Changes Rules

Apprenroth is a doctoral student at the Institute for Public Health at the听 Charit茅 Universeit盲tsmedizin Berlin.听听

In June, Mr Gay World announced it had 鈥渁mended its policy to听 encompass the male identifying spectrum within the 17c起草社区+ community.鈥澨�

The organisation said the competition was 鈥渙pen to anyone who identifies听 as male, using him and his pronouns and who collectively identifies as听 male.鈥澨�

 

View this post on Instagram

 

鈥淭he title winner would be crowned as Mr. Gay World and it is for this听 reason that all entrants should identify in this way鈥�its primary focus is that听 of the gay and male-identifying demographic of society as a community听 that has been globally recognized as a vulnerable minority with specific听 needs and requirements to promote self-confidence, solidarity, and a听 sense of community,鈥� the organisation said in a statement.听

听鈥淚 think the contest is great, because it’s not just about the pretty looks of听 the candidates, but community engagement is at the fore,鈥� Appenroth told听 Queer.de.听

Not Just Cis Gay Men

 

View this post on Instagram

 

鈥淲ith my participation I would like to show that the gay community does听 not only consist of cis men. Masculinity is diverse, trans people have听always been part of the gay community, and that should just get more听 visibility.鈥澨�

鈥淎s a trans person, I experience discrimination every day. In fact,听 unfortunately, again and again from the (cis) gay community,鈥� Appenroth听 told Queer.de.听

鈥淎t the end of the day, everyone benefits if we give more space to diversity听 in our society and celebrate our differences together instead of using them听 for exclusion. For me, more diversity simply means more freedom and less听 restriction due to outdated social norms.鈥澨�

鈥淢y experiences over the last few years clearly show that as a trans听 person I am not welcome everywhere in gay places. One might actually听 think that gay cis men were exactly at this point once. That they had to听 fight for space, visibility and the life and experience of their sexuality. That听 is why these negative reactions that come from the gay community sit all听 the more deeply,鈥� Appenroth told 厂颈别驳别蝉蝉盲耻濒别.听

 

View this post on Instagram

 

鈥淲e, trans males, were and are part of the gay community,鈥� Appenroth听 said.听

鈥淚 don’t care that not everyone is into me. But when (mostly) complete听 strangers tell me that I have no business in this community, I don’t听 care. Whether the people like it or not: 鈥榶our鈥� gay community is also 鈥榤y鈥櫶� gay community.鈥�