A Muslim man from the South crowned as this year's Mr Gay World Thailand will compete on the world stage and represent the Thai LGBTQ+ community at Mr Gay World 2023 in October.
In the final round of the Thai competition, hosted by the Bangkok Rainbow Organisation at Mambo Cabaret on Saturday, Nazmadih Mateem Nujan, 30, an outdoor fitness instructor, was named as winner and chosen to fly to South Africa and compete from Oct 23–29 as the first Muslim to represent Thailand at Mr Gay World.
The Bangkok Post had a chance to interview him on the topic of being openly gay in Muslim society.
Speaking in reference to discrimination, Mr Nazmadih praised his family for supporting him regardless of his sexual orientation.
He said he had also received considerable support from his community in Kuan Prab Village in Phatthalung.
However, he was still worried that some people may not understand, as the Muslim community was diverse in its teaching.
"I think we need to communicate to those who may not understand us. There are many LGBTQ+ Muslim who have strong faith in religion but they cannot remain in the religion because the surrounding pressures keep telling them they are wrong," he said.
He said that what empowered him to be brave and bold were his family and community.
"Being crowned this year's Mr Gay World Thailand and being the first gay Muslim to get the title may help to empower other LGBTQ+ Muslims. They can still be good followers while being who they are," he added.
Mr Gay World Thailand is in its fifth year, despite firsts being held in 2017, due to Covid 19 forcing organisers to postpone the event in 2021 and 2022.
Each year has a specific theme and this year's was "This is Me".
The competition is open to all gay males regardless of body size or shape, skin tone or even physical abilities. Of this year's field of 29, one was profoundly deaf.
Kittinun Daramadhaj, chairman of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, added that LGBTQ+ people in Thailand often have to face the accusation that they are "sexually abnormal", or "unnatural", so events such as Mr Gay World Thailand are important in promoting the positive aspects of their sexuality to the wider public.