2017 has begun already which also makes it time again for the search of a new Mister Gay Belgium. The twelve contestants for 2017 are known for the public and introduced at the Press Event in February. They are eager to take over the reign and title of Mister Gay Belgium 2016 
Raf Van Puymbroeck. They have their own message to bring out to the world and will show why they should be named as Mister Gay Belgium 2017 at the 27th of May in Antwerp. Time again like every year for PINK IN OUR LIVES to put all candidates separately in the spotlight and give a taste of who they are. We have met them all and they are a fine and friendly group of guys and the nineth candidate of this series of interviews will be Gregory Danvoie.
Gregory Danvoie is 23 years old, Student Secretary-Languages and is living in Liege (Wallonia). He did his coming out in 2011 and his project is about “More LGBT tolerance within different religions”.
What is the reason you joined this election of Mister Gay Belgium?
“I signed up for Mister Gay Belgium, because I wanted to fight against the inequality and the discrimination to 
the LGBT community. I realized that when we walk in the street we can receive sometimes mockeries and insults. I think that it’s time to stop all the differences, these mockeries and all this verbal/physical violence. Everyone has the right to be happy and to be respected in life no matter which choice someone makes. But there is a lot of people, who keep hiding and who are afraid of admitting their homosexuality. In particular when people coming from different religions because it’s simply badly perceived. This is the reason why I signed up at Mister Gay Belgium. I would like to help people to come out. Speak with them, give advice, show that it’s something “normal” . I would really like to change and to develop the mentalities. How? Simply by setting up workshops with people coming from different religions in different places. For example at school with young kids, this is where we have to give good education. But also with parents and with people from different origine and cultures. I think that we have to live together and in peace.”
To whom did you do your first coming out and how?
“The first person to who I made my coming out was my mother. We are very in collusion with each other. We
share many things together and it’s the most important person in my life. She always made sure that I will be happy in my life. That’s why it was necessary that she was the first to know. I don’t always find words to express what I feel Inside, so I prefer to escape by writing. I had written a letter to my mother, where I explained what I felt and about my coming out. She answered me the same day with a letter too. Then we have talked about it. Communication is very important to me and every mother loves her child. From there on it went very well…”
What does the Gay Pride mean for you and do we still need such a parade these days?
“The Gay Pride represents for me a day, where the community LGBT can show to the people, countries 
and the whole word that every human being is equal. No matter the choices you make in your life. And that they also have rights for equality in every domains in the life. By the way, I recognize that we have to fight every day and not only during this day. But for me, yes, this is an important day for us, but also to change the mentality. It’s important to fight against ignorance and discrimination and to show that we are ordinary people.”
What features/personality does your ideal man has to have and like which hunk does he have to look like?
“For me there is not ideal person? A relation is something we build and that we don’t’ found itself. But it’s 
true that we have always criteria and requirements. My ideal would be to find somebody who is in the environment of dance, who could learn it, love it, to accompany me to live my dream. I would like to share it with somebody, because it’s my reason of life and it takes me a lot of time. It always create problems in my serious relationships. I have no preference in particular, but I prefer boys who have approximately the same age as me. A boy who is rather small, social, funny, cute, interesting and passionate, who likes dancing, who is sincere and faithful and especially who can support me haha!”
What advice would you give to young gays that did not come out of the closet yet?
“To come out is something difficult, but to keep this weight on your shoulders is not a good thing. The goal in 
life is to be happy and for that you must accept yourself, accept your choices and to be proud of who you are. Holding on to this weight prevents us from being totally free and it locks us into a constant ill-being. What is better than to feel living without hiding? When the coming-out is done, we can exteriorize this ill-being, we feel free and happy. We can finally become who we are really! Unfortunately it gets sometimes badly with friends or family. But don’t forget that someone who really loves you, is someone who wants you to be happy! And with a little time everything eventually works out. For me communication is very important and find a trust worthy person, who can help us and with who we can speak is priceless. Don’t be alone with that, there are a lot of things organized to help you. Little by little the mentalities are changing, don’t stay hiding.”
Short reactions on the following words/statements:
Favorite country: “My favorite country is Italy. It’s due to my origins and if I could go to live there one day, it wouldn’t turn it down!”
Donald Trump: “This is a character that I don’t appreciate. For me, this is a racist. He’s destroying all things that was set up before him. He is congealed on these ideas and he thinks only of his personal profit”
Your superhero(es): “I haven’t a superhero in my life. All people who fascinated me are people fought all their life to reach to their dream, even if their life is complicated.”
Fetish: “I have no special fetish actually”
Marriage or children: “I have always said that I never wanted to get married, but it’s true that if I was lucky to meet one day the ideal person, a person with who I feel really good, I could change my mind. Because it’s something wonderful to experience.”
Pink In Our Lives: “I find that it’s a color, who can be associated as well for boys as for girls. I don’t see why this color should be intended only for girls. It’s a color as another one. Men shouldn’t be bothered to wear it”
Biggest fear: “I have really no biggest fear in my life, but I think that what makes me most fear is death. Life is not simple every day, but the fact it can change one day is something that scares me. I think that it’s necessary to take advantage at the most of life as long as we can.”
Boxers or briefs: “I wear every day boxers. I don’t like wear briefs.”
Great Gay Party: “I find partying great! It’s important to release the pressure and to go out with friends to have fun. I go out from time to time and I like to party. It’s great to have a place, where we can be ourselves without prejudice”.
First love: “I have had some serious relations but I have never found what I really looked for. I was always very disappointed. I think so that for me I have still never found the big love, my first love.”
Worst quality of yourself: “I take care too much of what people can think about me and I’m very stressed in life.”
Best quality of yourself: “I’m very simple, social and nice person. I also show a lot of empathy.”
Perfect hair or beautiful outfit: “I choose perfect hair, because I spend a lot of time to with my hair and even in the end the result is never satisfying. We can be dressed with basic clothes and have a lot of charms.”
Best Body part: “This is my feet because without them I couldn’t make what I love : Dancing.”
Goal in your life: “My first goal in my life is to be happy. But my dream is to be able to live from dancing. I would want to reach “Superstar stage” in my Championships and become a known choreographer in my discipline ” Line Dance ” to travel around the world and give a lot of workshops.”
Biggest Idol: “My biggest idols are obviously all known choreographers in my discipline “Line Dance”, who lives through the dance. I hope that one day I will be one of them. I work hard for that.”
Breakfast in bed or dinner for 2: “I prefer a dinner for 2. Because I like to spend time with friends, or family or with my boyfriend. Furthermore I am more an evening person. I do a lot of things and I go to sleep very late, so in the morning it’s always a race against time. I don’t like to take breakfast, except when I have a day off.”
Mister Gay Belgium: “We have already spend time together and it’s always great! All the staff is fantastic and it’s the same for my companions! I say companions, because I have the impression that we are a family. There is no competition or rivalry. We support ourselves and we are always together. I am very proud that I can experience this adventure. For me it’s a change for us for the future. That brings good. That allows us to live with lots of fantastic things”.
Thank you for your answers Gregory and for letting my readers and your voters getting to know you better. You can vote for him through this link with OutTv: https://app.je/entry/53792
May the best GAY Ambassador win!!! Thank you also photographers Johan Vos, Marc Drofmans, Tom Vaes, Kevin Wuyts, Emmanuel Deprijckere, René Emmerink and Johan Cansse for the great pictures of all the candidates and www.welovemisses.be for the videos.
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Big kiss,
Lesley Middleton, owner of PINK IN OUR LIVES