Finalist 2011 – Charlie Jacobs
Name Charlie Jacobs
City / Town Randburg
Province Gauteng
Age 30
Career Career – Sales & Event Decor Executive for 3DDECO, Professional Freelance Photographer, Post Graduate student in Social Psychology 
Previous Competitions Mr.Millenium Talent 1999
Why do you want to be Mr. Gay South Africa™ 2011? The most eminent question that we repeatedly ask ourselves is “What is our purpose”?  I believe that we are here to learn as much as we can from each other and teach those that can benefit from our life lessons and experiences.  I continuously strive to fulfil my purpose… I believe that it’s my social responsibility as a gay South African male, to be a role model that is not limited to the gay community.  I have recently enrolled for my post graduate degree in Social Psychology and will be attending a life coaching course, specializing in improving human communication. I find it rather alarming that in today’s day and age, with our advanced technology, we as a society continuously fail to adequately communicate.  It is critical that we improve our basic personal communication skills with one another so that we not are crippled by fear (fear of rejection, fear of disappointment and fear of failure) which prevents us from being honest with each other about who we truly are.  People living with HIV often fall victim to this shortfall. Being diagnosed with HIV nearly a decade ago, I had to learn how to overcome all the obstacles faced by such a stigmatized disease. Denial being one of the biggest hurdles that I had to overcome. Denial, certainly not being the river in Egypt (The Nile). I thought ‘coming OUT’ was hard however coming out of this’ HIV closet’ has been the most challenging. I entered Mr. Gay South Africa as it’s not a pageant or modelling competition but has a far greater significance; it is the selection of an ambassador for the LGBTI community. I strive to be an encouraging role model to society, for living life to its full potential, regardless of your status and sexual orientation. I am already achieving this on a small scale however with a platform such as Mr. Gay South Africa, the impact could be far greater. I will be able to reach out to those who have difficulty in finding their voices, who are stereotyped by society because of their sexual orientation or their HIV status. I will be able to be an example to prove, that your status does limit you to a different life. That it can be overcome, that it is not an end but a beginning. I will show, by walking the walk, that I can be a true ambassador for human rights and especially those of the gay community. I will be a proud representative of the title and will use it to better the lives of others.
Which public gay figure, South African or otherwise, do you see as a role model and why? Judge Cameron was the first prominent South African official to state publicly that he was HIV positive. He was moved by the devastating death of Gugu Dlamini (HIV Activist), after she had admitted on a local radio station that she was HIV positive, to publicly share his live experience, living with HIV. He co-drafted the Charter of Rights on Aids and HIV, co-founded the AIDS Consortium and founded and was the first director of the AIDS Law Project. I admire Judge Cameron for taking the courageous step to come out of the “HIV closet”.  From my personal live experience, I thought coming out was hard, however coming out of the “HIV closet” is a greater challenge, not to mention the challenges  it must have been for a man of his  status and reputation. I believe we need more high profile people, like him, to share their live changing experience, living with HIV/AIDS. This will not only break the stigma of HIV but also encourage awareness that one can live a good quality life after being diagnosed.
Chosen charity to support OUT Well-being
Web site / Blog http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/groups/148793695210038/
SMS Code SMS GSA 7 to 34008.Each SMS costs R2 – maximum of 100 SMS per Phone Number per day. E.g. SMS “GSA 7” to 34008.