US: Trans man wins ‘Mr Gay Philadelphia’ competition

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a pink background.

A trans man has won the ‘Mr Gay Philadelphia’ competition for the first time ever.

Lou Cutler, 33, took home the crown this weekend, besting 13 other competitors.

He told Philly Mag, after the event: “It means a lot to me.

“It’s kind of hard to be a gay trans man sometimes. But I’m very proud of who I am, and I’ve worked very hard to become who I am.

“This, in some sense, is a dream come true for me. To be able to be part of this community, and also represent my own community—and to just be visible.

“It’s important for me to be out and visible as gay and trans, to show the community that not every trans person is the same.”

Earlier this month, France magazine Têtu refused to disqualify a man from their ‘Mr Gay’ competition, after he posted video of a white woman being assaulted by a black man, and claimed it was a reason to vote for a far-right party.

Têtu editor-in-chief Yannick Barbe said: “It’s his right to vote for FN, even if we don’t share his beliefs. This is a beauty pageant, and our readers’ vote was only based on a single criterion!”

In February this year, a former Mr Gay Newcastle and Big Brother contestant was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm and sentenced to 21 months in prison, after an unprovoked attack on a man.