I feel ready to be a spokesperson for our community. Confident and courageous enough to step up for our rights driven by a big heart and energetic spirit and spread love all around!

LGBTQ+ Activism is a major part of my life, so I chose to live in a city that could support a place where freedom, equality, and self-expression is so vividly alive. I support local queer institutions and organisations like “Enough is Enough” in Berlin and all over Germany. Also in my job cultural education is not only about cinema and films, students often start talking about sexuality and gender topics, I’m always happy to share my experience with them.

I’m really passionate about this, because I would have loved to be surrounded by open minded queer people when I was a kid in their ages. That’s why I’II try to be that person for those who reach out to me, who are still in the closet. It’s crazy that I was 19 years old when I met the first gay in person in real life. This experience really opened my eyes and showed me that being gay is not a bad thing at all. And it’s my reality.

Growing up, I was bullied a lot at school because I was feminine in my appearance and preferred hanging out with girls more than with boys. Being gay was just not an option for me then. I tried so badly to convince my classmates that they were wrong with their “accusations” towards me – they would tease me and call me a “faggot” all the time and I hated it. I became so obsessed about this that I forgot about what I really should have focused on: being myself!

Eventually I was 22 years old when I finally came out to everyone. Overall the reaction was fine, but I needed to educate my parents about gay life because their minds were full of prejudices. I sat the down and told them about fetishes, bears, twinks, HIV stigma, and of course about romantic feelings, love and sex between men.

Mr Gay Europe is so important because it highlights the amazing work that global activists are taking to better the lives of LGBTQ+ people, and the world pays closer attention to our message. I am so excited to see what impact we can make when we work together.