 |
| |
|
Grand Finale Photos and Slideshows
|
| |
Photos by Tom Bianchi
|
|
Photos by Jim Cox
|
|
Slideshows
|
|
| |
|
Friday night of Columbus Day Weekend, October 7, 2005, kicked off the Grand Finale Weekend of the International Mr. Gay Competition. The first public appearance by both the US and International Finalists was as a benefit for The Trevor Project hosted at the private home of Marc Ware in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs. Hosted by Instinct Magazine, this cocktail reception was from a huge success and raised over $2000 for The Trevor Project.
The Grand Finale Stage Show was on Saturday night, October 8, 2005, in the Mediterranean Room at the Riviera Resort & Racquet Club in Palm Springs. This was the final round of competitions and ended with the selection of the International Mr. Gay for 2006. The Grand Finale sold out and there was standing room only as guests observed the judges huddling to resolve a tie vote for the International title. The full story is on the Home Page and Grand Finale Weekend photos are now available at the links on top of this page, including photos from photographers Tom Bianchi and Jim Cox plus ten slideshows of the various activities throughout the entire Grand Finale Weekend courtesy of Lobeline Communications.
Host for the Grand Finale Stage Show
The Stage Show was hosted by Robert Laughlin and included talent presentations from all Finalists.
|
| |
 |
Our Host, Robert Laughlin
Robert Laughlin, born in the small town of Yamhill, Oregon, has always had a flair for fashion, home design, and beauty. These passions led him to enroll at the Cornish College of The Arts in Seattle where he received a bachelor of fine arts degree in Theatre. Laughlin's strong background in theatre and design eventually brought him to Los Angeles where he worked at the high-end stores Designs In Pine and Not So Far East.
Laughlin has enjoyed an extensive career in television and film. He has guest-starred on such shows as "Kitchen Confidential," "Six Feet Under," "The Big Easy," "Family Matters," "Cybill," and "Caroline in the City." He has also performed in the feature films "Higher Learning," "Dogfight" and the upcoming feature "Another Gay Movie." Robbie has been seen in AMC's reality series "Project Gay Hollywood," as an assistant wedding coordinator on TLC's "For Better or for Worse," and as a recurring guest stylist on The Style Network's "How Do I Look?" Most recently he starred as "The Look" on Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Girl." Launching September 2005 on the Q Television Network Robbie re-teams with his Gal Pal Honey Labrador in "Xcess/Access"; a 13 part series all access look into L.A. fashion week.
TUNE IN!
|
|
Judges for the Grand Finale Stage Show
The Judges Panel included California State Assemblyman Mark Leno, Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden, writer/producer Dirk Shafer ("Man of the Year" and "Circuit"), Instinct Magazines Publisher J.R. Pratts, Palm Springs developer, Scott Unger, and Interactive Males Marketing Director Joseph Rachert from Canada.
Scott Unger, had this to say: "I am excited that this gathering of international winners will be here in my favorite city. It will certainly make this a very exciting Columbus Day Weekend for Palm Springs. There simply never has been a gathering of handsome men like this before."
|
| |
|
Ron Oden, Mayor, City of Palm Springs, California
|
Mayor Ron Oden served as a Council Member for nine years and currently as Mayor of Palm Springs (since November 2003), his experiences have allowed him to lead and nurture the city he loves so dearly. Mayor Oden's private sector experience has centered on education and social issues. He has worked with Desert Career College, College of the Desert, Chapman University and he has served as pastoral care consultant at the Betty Ford Center.
As an avid student, Mayor Oden's studies focused on family life and counseling. He holds a B.A. in history, sociology, and theology and M.A.'s in theology and ethics studies, with post-graduate courses in marriage, family and child counseling.
|
| |
|
JR Pratts
|
JR Pratts is the Publisher and Founder of INSTINCT Magazine, the # 1 gay men's magazine in the U.S.. JR graduted with a degree in Economics and worked as an Investment Analyst before working in the publishing industry. Instinct will be 8 years old in November 2005.
|
| |
|
Joseph Rachert
|
For the past five years, Joe Rachert, Senior Promotions Manager for Teligence has been building Interactive Male's reputation as a leader in the gay dating world and as a strong partner in the GLBT community. Interactive Male just keeps growing and with that growth comes the responsibility to be an active and contributing member of the community. That's why events like Mr. Gay 2006 are important to support. The GLBT community keeps evolving and it's Joe's goal to reflect that evolution in the services Interactive Male offers and in the way it conducts business. When he's not traveling around the country, Joe can be found in beautiful Vancouver, BC hanging out with a few ghosts in his apartment, cooking, biking, reading, painting and living the daily grind.
|
| |
|
Dirk Shafer
|
Dirk Shafer is the writer director of the hit indie gay films CIRCUIT and MAN OF THE YEAR. However, he's probably most famous as Playgirl Magazines first openly gay Man of the Year centerfold. He is currently developing both gay and straight themed film and TV projects along with writing cutting edge articles for several very important magazines (Instinct, Outtraveler). He can be found in the heart of ultra-trendy Melrose drinking a lot of Kombucha, surfing, doing Pilates, and learning to go with the flow of the Universe.
|
| |
|
Scott Unger
|
Scott Unger is a Los Angeles and Palm Springs based real estate developer. Scotts firm, Unger Development, forms investment groups to invest in value-added real estate opportunities throughout southern California but has recently focused his firms attention on the fast growing markets in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley. Scott is also the founder and currently serves as a Director for Genex, Southern Californias largest privately held internet consulting and development firm. With offices in Culver City and Atlanta, Genex serves such clients as American Honda/Acura, The WB Television Network, E! Entertainment TV, Mercedes Benz and Nestle USA. Scott gives his time and resources to a variety of charities including Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing, APLA, HRC and others.
|
| |
|
Mark Leno, Assemblyman, 13th District
|
Elected in 2002, Assemblyman Mark Leno represents the 13th State Assembly District, which encompasses the eastern portion of San Francisco. He is one of the first openly gay men elected to the Assembly and served as Chair of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender) Caucus in 2004. He currently chairs the Public Safety Committee, and sits on the Appropriations, Election & Redistricting and Labor Committees. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Leno served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from April 1998 to November 2002.
During his first term, Assemblyman Leno was successful in getting 28 bills passed by the legislature and signed into law, including laws that protect Californians from gender based discrimination in housing and employment, amend the Ellis Act to preserve affordable housing for seniors and the disabled, streamline the administration of rapid HIV tests to at risk populations, allow rehabilitated drug offenders to access food stamps and allow San Francisco to build large-scale solar systems on public buildings.
A native of Wisconsin, Leno attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, then went on to become valedictorian of his graduating class at the American College of Jerusalem, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree. Leno also spent two years in Rabbinical Studies at The Hebrew Union College in New York. He is the owner of Budget Signs, Inc., a small business he founded in 1978 and operated with his life partner, Douglas Jackson. Together the two entrepreneurs steadily grew their sign business until Jackson passed away from complications relating to HIV/AIDS in 1990. This deep loss would not deter Leno. Instead, he redoubled his efforts in community service.
He has served on the boards of many local and national organizations including the LGBT Community Center Project, Haight Ashbury Community Services, the American Jewish Congress, Mobilization Against AIDS, and the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. He is the recipient of the 1995 Small Business Owner of the Year Award from the Small Business Network, the 1995 Hormel Community Service Award from the Human Rights Campaign and the James R. Sylla Award from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
|
|
| |
|
USA Mr. Gay
Summary Score Sheet (2005)
Stage Competition
|
|
Contestant/Judge
|
Mark Leno
|
Ron Oden
|
JR Pratts
|
Joseph Rachert
|
Scott Ungar
|
Dirk Shafer
|
Average Score
|
|
Blair Shepherd
San Francisco
|
85
|
86
|
91
|
65
|
83
|
85
|
82.5
|
|
Joey Siesholtz
Los Angeles
|
61
|
89
|
22
|
61
|
82
|
62
|
62.8
|
|
Michael Wasileski
New York
|
70
|
94
|
88
|
70
|
81
|
76
|
79.8
|
|
Jesse Bashem
San Diego
|
95
|
93
|
92
|
87
|
95
|
100
|
93.7
|
|
Bobby Ficco
Palm Springs
|
58
|
80
|
52
|
60
|
75
|
45
|
61.7
|
|
| |
| Final Score Calculation |
|
Contestant/Event
|
Rock Climbing
|
Fireman Training
|
Stage Comp
|
Final Score
|
Rank
|
|
25%
|
25%
|
50%
|
|
|
|
Blair Shepherd
San Francisco
|
87
|
90
|
82.5
|
85.5
|
2
|
|
Joey Siesholtz
Los Angeles
|
82
|
70
|
62.8
|
69.4
|
4
|
|
Michael Wasileski
New York
|
78
|
80
|
79.8
|
79.4
|
3
|
|
Jesse Bashem
San Diego
|
89
|
100
|
93.7
|
94.1
|
1
|
|
Bobby Ficco
Palm Springs
|
75
|
60
|
61.7
|
64.6
|
5
|
|
| |
|
International Mr. Gay
Summary Score Sheet (2005)
Stage Competition
|
|
Contestant/Judge
|
Mark Leno
|
Ron Oden
|
JR Pratts
|
Joseph Rachert
|
Scott Ungar
|
Dirk Shafer
|
Average Score
|
|
Alexander Van Kempen
Netherlands
|
83
|
62
|
69
|
61
|
71
|
76
|
70.3
|
|
David Thorkildsen
Norway
|
95
|
85
|
94
|
77
|
92
|
95
|
89.7
|
|
Suat Bahceci
Germany
|
87
|
88
|
70
|
64
|
99
|
77
|
80.8
|
|
Erik Berg
Lapland
|
82
|
61
|
61
|
58
|
67
|
52
|
63.5
|
|
Ivan Penev
Bulgaria
|
89
|
76
|
81
|
67
|
67
|
86
|
77.7
|
|
Aaron Michael Jackson
Austria
|
89
|
83
|
69
|
83
|
78
|
61
|
77.2
|
|
Milo Jovovich
Bosnai & Herzegovina
|
86
|
68
|
90
|
68
|
85
|
88
|
80.8
|
|
Jesse Basham
USA
|
95
|
93
|
92
|
87
|
95
|
100
|
93.7
|
|
| |
| Final Score Calculation |
|
Contestant/Event
|
Rock Climbing
|
Fireman Training
|
Stage Comp
|
Final Score
|
Rank
|
|
25%
|
25%
|
50%
|
|
|
|
Alexander Van Kempen
Netherlands
|
80
|
60
|
70.3
|
70.2
|
7
|
|
David Thorkildsen
Norway
|
81
|
80
|
89.7
|
85.1
|
4
|
|
Suat Bahceci
Germany
|
90
|
90
|
80.8
|
85.4
|
3
|
|
Erik Berg
Lappland
|
82
|
50
|
63.5
|
64.8
|
8
|
|
Ivan Penev
Bulgaria
|
88
|
50
|
77.7
|
73.3
|
6
|
|
Aaron Michael Jackson
Austria
|
92
|
100
|
77.2
|
86.6
|
2
|
|
Milo Jovovich
Bosnai & Herzegovina
|
96
|
50
|
80.8
|
76.9
|
5
|
|
Jesse Basham
USA
|
89
|
70
|
93.7
|
86.6
|
1
|
|
| |
|
Grand Prize Packages
US Mr. Gay received:
› Two Domestic Airline tickets to the winners choice of five cities;
› Acting Lesson from Bobby Shaw Chance
› Private Photo Session with Photographer Tom Bianchi
› Private Photo Session with Photographer Jim Cox
› Gift Package from Ginch Gonch and Centaur Music
› Possible Modeling Contract with Network International and five night photo shoot in NYC
International Mr. Gay received:
› Modeling Contract with Ginch Gonch
› Photo Session with photographer Tom Bianchi
› Complete Wardrobe from Columbian Designer, Juan Castrillon
› Gift Packages from Centaur Music and Ginch Gonch
› First International Mr. Gay Title
› December 2005 Cover Feature with Instinct Magazine
The Grand Finale was filmed for a two hour special to be broadcast on Q TV Network. In addition, underachiever films is shooting the series of events leading up to and including the Grand Finale Stage Show for a documentary movie, working title: "The Road to Mr. Gay 2006"
|
|
| |
|
|
|
