It all started like a crazy party idea in late 2004. Actor Morten Ruda wanted to “retire” his drag queen character ‘Tootsie Knutsen” with one hell of a party; after this party, ‘she’ was off to a life with sun, strawberry daiquiris and hot muscular pool boys in Miami.
In 2005 Oslo hosted EuroPride and Morten and his friend Tore Aasheim believed that a decadent ‘Mr. Gay Europe competition’ was a farewell party worthy of ‘Ms. Knutsen’. With Morten’s background from producing numerous shows all over the world, and his knowledge from working with Miss Universe, and Tore’s knowledge with press, marketing and internet web design – the two set off to produce the party/show.
Morten started to browse the web after Mr. Gay competitions and after a while the first Delegates started to sign on. And funny enough – even before the first MGE final had taken place, producers in three different European capitals “applied” to host Mr. Gay Europe the coming year!
As the preparation for the event proceeded, it became clear that Morten’s “give back to community” philosophy, Tore’s political engagement and the convincing application from Amsterdam, that MGE was not going to be a “one time” event.
At times MGE has been protected by riot police, one year MGE got a letter from an Embassy that their country would not accept the sovereignty of a new state in Europe, another year one Delegate did not want to take part because MGE let Israel participate; MGE defied the nationalist bullies, MGE told the Embassy that it is an including competition, and MGE told the reluctant Delegate to stay at home…
It is important to remember, everyone is working voluntary, and to produce a pan-continental event is not done ‘just like that’ – it is hours of blood, sweat and tears. And of course MGE does have its share of drama – it is after all, a gay competition.
“We wanted to wrap an important message about gay pride, human rights and unity thru diversity, into a package of fun, festival and a fabulous show,” MGE founder and previous President Morten Ruda remembers.
“MGE is an open and including rivalry amongst friends and fellow citizens of Europe. We are the original Mr Gay competition and we truly hope that we make a small contribution in the fight for gay rights in Europe, current MGE president Tore Aasheim says.
2005 – OSLO, NORWAY
Executive Producer: Morten Ruda
Winner: Alexander van Kempen, The Netherlands
2006 – AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
President & Executive Producer: Morten Ruda
Winner: Nandi Gyöngyösi, Hungary
2007 – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
President: Morten Ruda
Executive Producer: Tore Aasheim
Winner: Jackson Netto, Germany
2008 – BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
President: Morten Ruda
Executive Producer: Tore Aasheim
Winner: Antonio Almijez, Spain
2009 – OSLO, NORWAY
President: Morten Ruda
Executive Producer: Tore Aasheim
Winner: Sergio Lara, Spain
2010/2011 – BUCHAREST & POIANA BRASOV, ROMANIA
President (2010): Eric Butter
Executive Producer (2010): Tore Aasheim
President & Executive Producer (2011): Tore Aasheim
Winner: Giulio Spatola, Italy
2012 – ROME, ITALY
President: Tore Aasheim
Executive Producer: Mauro Basso/Gay Village
Winner: Miguel Ortiz
2013 – PRAGUE, THE CZECH REPUBLIC
President: Tore Aasheim
Executive Producer: Tomas Fryda
Winner:
