June 10, 2014 | Sex & Society

Têtu Magazine doesn't care if you are a racist, as long as you are hot

French magazine Têtu doesn't think being a racist should disqualify someone from representing it in the Mr Gay World contest.

The issue arose after 22-year-old Matthieu Chartraire, who was selected by Têtu readers as "Mister Gay May," took to Facebook to complain about people of different races on Facebook. He also posted a video of a white woman being attacked by a black man, writing: "This is why I would vote for FN," he wrote. (Note: FN, or Front National, is a far-right anti-immigration, anti-Semitic and anti-gay political party in France.)

The magazine distanced itself from Chartraire, saying, "The fight against homophobia can't be separated from the fight against any other form of discrimination." But Chartraire is still welcome to compete in the Mister Gay 2014, in December.

"It's in his right to vote for FN, even if we don't share his beliefs," argued Têtu editor-in-chief Yannick Barbe. "This is a beauty pageant, and our readers' vote was only based on a single criterion! He only stands for himself, and certainly not for the gay community. (Excluding him) would be censorship, and the best way to victimize him."

Because models should never be held accountable for what they say.

France: Gay magazine refuses to disqualify ‘Mr Gay’ contestant over racism allegations [Pink News]