Party in the Van Puymbroeck house!
Mr. Gay Belgium and Mr. Gay Europe Raf van Puymbroeck has been named media personality of the year by viewers and fans of TV channel OUTtv. OUTtv held a large online poll where viewers and fans could vote for their favorite.
The OUTtv Media Award is a prize that is awarded annually to a person who has brought homosexuality to the attention of the media in a non-conventional and positive way. Raf van Puymbroeck was both proclaimed as Mr. Gay Belgium as Mr. Gay Europe and is committed to the acceptance of LGBs in sport.
Unexpected!
On Thursday evening, Raf van Puymbroeck was surprised by OUTtv during his dance class and received the OUTtv Media Award. "I didn't really expect it. Not at all. It means a lot, because we do our very best with the organization of Mr. Gay Belgium. The prize is a confirmation that we are doing well and that we must continue to do what we do: spread the message of love and acceptance, ”was the winner's response.
Tolerance Kitty,
The award is the so-called pink "Tolerance Kitty" by the Belgian artist Hannes D’Haese. The artwork with the text "It's okay to be gay" is a concept by Patrick Declerck and initiated as a protest against anti-gay legislation in Russia. The Forbearance Cat came in the news when a copy was sent to Russian President Putin last year As a reminder of this protest, OUTtv dedicates its award to this. The artwork was donated by WM Gallery from Antwerp.
Winners of previous yearsstrong,
Last year, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel won the OUTtv Media Award when he spoke openly about the rights of LGBT people in 2015 at the UN General Assembly in New York. In 2014, the award went to Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst.
resentation on Coming Out Day on OUTtvstrong,
The presentation will be broadcast on OUTtv on Coming Out Day, Tuesday 11 October, at 6 pm, 8 pm, 9:20 pm and 10:15 pm. On Thursday 13 October the report will be repeated in OUTtv Update at 6.45 p.m. and 8.45 p.m.