Finalist 2011 – Lance Weyer
Name Lance Weyer
City / Town East London
Province Eastern Cape
Age 24
Career Lance is a graduate of University of Fort Hare and the University of South Africa, with experience in the Educational and Psychological services industries. He is currently a serving PR Councillor at the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. He serves on the Health & Public Safety Standing Committee as well as the Special Programs Strategic Committee, which deals with programs and initiatives and their integration into other municipal operations on issues such as HIV/AIDS, TB, women, children and the disabled amongst others.
Previous Competitions Mr Pink Loerie Mardi Gras 2011
Why do you want to be Mr. Gay South Africa™ 2011? Mr Gay South Africa isn’t just about being a pretty face, it’s also about finding a representative for community who can help to bring about change. I’d like to be Mr Gay South Africa 2011 as I’d like to be a role model to South African LGBTI youth. I found it very hard coming out in a small town. One of the hardest things was that I didn’t see any “normal guys” around that were gay. Too many young people resort to suicide and substance abuse because they believe that being homosexual is going to turn them into a social outcast. The youth need suitable role models to look up to, who they can be proud of, and who can help them come to terms with their sexual orientation without fear. I believe I can be this person – someone the youth can look up to and admire. I’ve gone on to achieve top honours at university and am one of the youngest municipal councillors in the county – all as an OUT gay man. I want to show young people that if I can do it, anyone can do it! If the youth can see that I can be a successful self-confident person they can realise that can also be.
Which public gay figure, South African or otherwise, do you see as a role model and why? Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. Milk was responsible for passing a stringent gay rights ordinance for the city of San Francisco – something that was not easy to achieve in the 1970’s.
Chosen charity to support Eastern Cape Gay and Lesbian Association. The ECGLA seeks to promote and protect the rights of the LGBTI community by means of: Education, medical advice, legal support, counselling services and social programs.
Web site / Blog http://lanceweyer.blogspot.com; http://www.facebook.com/Lance4MrGSA
SMS Code SMS GSA 14 to 34008.Each SMS costs R2 – maximum of 100 SMS per Phone Number per day. E.g. SMS “GSA 14” to 34008.