“I entered Mr Gay Namibia because I want to make a difference that will last in our community and in our country with the help of my first and second runners-up. I’ll protect my community because I’m the new role model to all the males, females and non-gender conforming people of my community. I’ll be a voice for the voiceless. I’ll be the strength for the powerless, because we are a family,” he says.
The twenty-year-old Lazarus says when he entered the Mr Gay Namibia contest, he was scared about what people would say, and was scared of being judged by his family and society.
“When I was in the pageant, the other contestants showed me that you need to be who you are and just be confident. What I learnt as a Mr Gay Namibia contestant is that members from our community can actually work together, and when we do we are stronger together. During the competition, we built a brotherhood and this has taught me the importance of teamwork and patience,” Lazarus says.
Lazarus says during his reign, he wants to focus on the LGBTQI+ organisations.
Lazarus is the only child of a single mother and grew up in Windhoek with an aunt and uncle.
He says when he come out about his sexuality in 2019, no one was there for him except two strangers. Announcing publicly that he is gay was not easy, especially for his family, he adds.
“It was the hardest time of my life because my family did not look at me the same anymore. Yes, some family members accepted while others didn’t feel it was good. I even went to see a doctor to get injected with more male hormones so that I can be more manly. The people who were there for me during that time were two guys I met in Ausspannplatz. They offered me food, bedding and shelter,” he says.
Lazarus says he first realised he was gay when he was in Grade 8, when he had a crush on a boy he did not know.
Lazarus urges people who are still hiding their sexuality not to be afraid.
“Don’t be afraid of your family, friends or society. It is important to just be true to yourself and make yourself happy. Don’t even waste your life because of what others want you to be. You’re strong and you’ve a community that is ready to stand by you,” he says.
Lazarus will be representing Namibia at the Mr Gay World contest in Cape Town this month. The contest gives delegates from around the world a platform to showcase their diversity, compassion and philanthropy.
The annual Mr Gay World competition aims to find an ambassador for the international LGBTQ+ community from a diverse range of delegates who represent the spirit of their nation and embody qualities such as confidence, self-assurance, charisma and natural leadership.
The grand finale will be staged at Cape Town’s Artscape Opera House on 15 October.
“I’m thrilled to be representing Namibia in the Mr Gay World contest. From this experience, I want to learn more. On top of the list for me is how other contestants from other countries faced or tackled homophobia, and I want to apply the same principles to my own country,” he says.
