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Wendelinus Hamutenya

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Wendelinus Hamutenya was Mr Gay Namibia 2011, one of two black Africans in the competition. Two weeks after winning the competition, he was beaten up near his house for the prize money.

In 2012, he took part in Mr Gay World; this was the first competition featuring any black Africans. He was stripped of his titles in 2012 for "unbecoming conduct". While it was not specified, it is believed that the charges refer to a 2012 domestic violence case against Hamutenya in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In 2015, Hamutenya was mugged and beaten; LGBTQ groups in Namibia say the attack may have been politically motivated due to his LGBTQ rights activism. In 2021, Hamutenya's boyfriend was arrested for the attempted murder of Hamutenya. Hamutenya said his boyfriend stabbed him after he bought an older version of a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone that his boyfriend did not want.

In 2023, following the Nigerian Supreme Court recognising foreign same-sex marriages in the country, Hamutenya said that "the Supreme Court of Namibia has ruled in favour of gay people". Later that year, traditional leaders of the Herero people criticised Hamutenya over outfits he wore at an anti-homophobia demonstration in Windhoek, saying "What is utterly disturbing is that this 'man', who chose to use our dress inappropriately, does not even appear to be a Herero, making me wonder why he chose our dress and not the one from his tribe", and that "the Herero Traditional Dress ... is linked to a culture that has very deep roots in the Herero nation. It is completely inappropriate and distasteful for a 'man' to wear it as it is reserved for women and it is initially introduced to young women through a specific ritual."

References

  1. ^ "SHOCK AS MR GAY NAMIBIA STRIPPED OF TITLE". MambaOnline. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. Kelto, Anders (9 April 2012). "For The First Time, Mr. Gay World Crowned In Africa". KERA. NPR News. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  3. Igual, Roberto (11 October 2013). "FORMER MR GAY NAMIBIA FOR MP?". MambaOnline. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  4. "First black African contestants for Mr Gay World". TimesLIVE. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  5. Kisting, Denver (28 November 2012). "Namibia: Wendelinus Fights for Crown". The Namibian. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  6. Garcia, Michelle (17 November 2015). "Mr Gay Namibia Assaulted". The Advocate. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  7. Jantze, Zorena (1 December 2021). "Mr Gay Namibia's husband in court for attempted murder". Informanté. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  8. Jason, Loide (2021-12-01). "'Traumatised' Hamutenya hints at withdrawing charges". New Era. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  9. Ndeyanale, Eliaser (18 May 2023). "Former Mr Gay Namibia excited over same-sex marriage victory". The Namibian. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  10. "Wendelinus hits back at Ovaherero Traditional Authority after 'Otjikaiva' uproar". Windhoek Observer. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
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