It is time again for already the sixth edition of finding Mister Gay Belgium this year with the Finale Show at Saturday the 2nd of June 2018 as you could have read here: https://pinkinourlives.com/2018/02/12/press-conference-mister-gay-belgium-2018-mgb18-pinkinourlives/
The Golden Twelve for 2018 are known for the public and they have their own message to bring out. Time to show and present themselves why they should be named as Mister Gay Belgium 2018 at the Finale Show at 2nd of June in Antwerp. Time for PINK IN OUR LIVES to have all candidates one on one in our spotlight and show you who they really are. Get surprised, intrigued and excited. The tenth candidate is Andreas Van Poucke!!!
Thanks already to the photographers Marc Drofmans, Tom Vaes, Marc Cuvelier, Kevin Wuyts, Karin Vermeiren, Emmanuel Deprijckere and René Emmerink for the great pictures of all the candidates and www.welovemisses.be for the video’s in this interview.
Andreas is 25 years old and lives in Nazareth (East-Flanders). He has his Master in International Trading. He did his coming out in 2016 and his project for Mister Gay Belgium is about “European stigmation and law environment”.
How did u find about this election and what does Mister Gay Belgium for you?
“Jamie and I met a couple of months before the 2017 MGB finals. We got talking and he told me about MGB. At first I thought no way I will ever participate. But when I saw on his Instagram story that he was meeting politicians and speaking in schools I slowly came to understand the impact of MGB. I never really saw myself as part of the LGBT community. I was gay, yess, but that was it. I never felt treated differently or discriminated. The more people I met though, the more I was hearing different stories. Even in Belgium, gays are often treated differently and a lot of clichés are very still much alive. That is when I decided I wanted to participate. To help other gays to feel good about themselves. Breaking clichés and showing that is does not have to be a problem to be gay, that is what I want to show.”
What does your topic/Campaign stand for and how will u bring your message known to the outside world?
“As I just said, I want to share a very positive message. I never felt treated differently and my coming-out only improved my life. By showing that in this day and age, being gay does not have to be a struggle, will hopefully convince more people to be openly gay. When 
more and more boys and girls, men and women are open about their sexual orientation, the more clichés will be broken. Clichés still make the LGBT community seem as a small, strange part of our society. I want to show that we are a very diverse community that is present in every part of our society. My campaign will be focused on bringing out this message not only in Belgium, but in the whole of Europe”.
To whom did you do your first coming out and how?
“My story begins in Toulouse, 2015 where I stayed for 3 months in an Erasmus program. I had already discovered tinder but never actually had a date. In Toulouse I went on my first date, it was a good match and we had fun. When I came back from my semester abroad, I started dating again. Without telling my friends though. 
After a while, I met this boy who really got to me. He played with my feelings and I felt the need to talk about it. I started talking about him to my best friend, Lynn. I had never dated before, nor talked about love or feelings to anyone. She was more excited and happy than surprised. I never used the words gay or homosexual. I did not use those words when I came out to my parents either. I told my other friends and family when I had my first boyfriend.”
What advice would you give to young gays that did not come out of the closet yet?
“I believe that coming home with someone you really love is the best way to come out. That is how my brother told my parents he was straight, so that is how I told them I was gay.”
Who is your superhero now and why?
“I don’t do superhero’s. There are however people that I admire for the way they are. For example, I really like the way James Cook is so confident and always stays himself.”
How do u feel that there still countries like Indonesia, where it is illegal to kiss somebody of the same-sex, let alone be gay?
“Acceptance of LGBT comes slowly and over more than one generation. We should not forget that in Belgium it took us some years to accept it as well. And we still have not reached full acceptance. I believe that when we set the right example in Belgium, showing how we changed successfully to a society that embraces differences, we can put in motion the process of change in these countries. These politicians are only a part of a society. In these countries, not everyone hates LGBT. We should not judge an entire country, but only those Political parties who want to divide and gain power by spreading fear and intolerance. But so just that, the inhabitants of those countries need to see that being LGBT is not wrong, it is just different. And that is something we can show them by setting an example.”
Short reaction on the following words/statements
Favorite country: “Netherlands”.
Naughty or nice: “Nice”.
Hottest guy: “Hahaha, Joey Mills”.
Marriage or Children: “Yes both. Or nothing, I will see.”
Pink In Our Lives: “Just became a fan.”
Favorite music: “Kygo and Lil Xan”.
Biggest Fear: “Midlife Crisis”.
Boxers or briefs: “Boxers, but briefs are sexier.”
Greatest Gay Party: “Le You/Flash”.
First Love: “That boy from study”
Bad ASSet: “I am pretty individualistic.”
Beautiful ASSet: “But also very social”
Bodypart you are most proud of: “My stomach”
Goal in your life: “Staying driven”.
Favorite Dragqueen: ‘Danity Grace”
Breakfast on bed or dinner for 2: “Breakfast in bed”.
Mister Gay Belgium organization: “Tight organized team”.
Thanks for this interview Andreas and for letting our readers to get to know you better. You can vote with this link for him at OutTv: https://app.je/entry/65471
May the best GAY Ambassador win!!!
Please follow us for more at Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter or Tumblr.
Fill out your email address at www.pinkinourlives.com for more updates, news, stories, parties and more!!! DON’T SAY IT, BUT SPRAY IT!!!
Big kiss,
Lesley Middleton, owner of PINK IN OUR LIVES