Wendelinus Hamutenya

Wendelinus Hamutenya was Mr Gay Namibia 2011,{{cite news |title=SHOCK AS MR GAY NAMIBIA STRIPPED OF TITLE |url=https://www.mambaonline.com/2012/11/27/shock-as-mr-gay-namibia-stripped-of-title/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=MambaOnline |date=27 November 2012}} one of two black Africans in the competition.{{cite news |last1=Kelto |first1=Anders |title=For The First Time, Mr. Gay World Crowned In Africa |url=https://www.keranews.org/2012-04-09/for-the-first-time-mr-gay-world-crowned-in-africa |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=KERA |agency=NPR News |date=9 April 2012 |language=en}} Two weeks after winning the competition, he was beaten up near his house for the prize money.{{cite news |last1=Igual |first1=Roberto |title=FORMER MR GAY NAMIBIA FOR MP? |url=https://www.mambaonline.com/2013/10/11/former-mr-gay-namibia-for-mp/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=MambaOnline |date=11 October 2013}}

In 2012, he took part in Mr Gay World; this was the first competition featuring any black Africans.{{cite news |title=First black African contestants for Mr Gay World |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2012-02-21-first-black-african-contestants-for-mr-gay-world/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=TimesLIVE |date=21 February 2012 |language=en-ZA}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Kisting |first1=Denver |title=Namibia: Wendelinus Fights for Crown |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201211300770.html |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Namibian |date=28 November 2012}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Michelle |title=Mr Gay Namibia Assaulted |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2011/12/12/mr-gay-namibia-assaulted |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Advocate |date=17 November 2015}} In 2021, Hamutenya's boyfriend was arrested for the attempted murder of Hamutenya.{{cite news |last1=Jantze |first1=Zorena |title=Mr Gay Namibia's husband in court for attempted murder |url=https://informante.web.na/?p=311362 |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=Informanté |date=1 December 2021 |language=en-ZA}} Hamutenya said his boyfriend stabbed him after he bought an older version of a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone that his boyfriend did not want.{{cite news |last1=Jason |first1=Loide |title='Traumatised' Hamutenya hints at withdrawing charges |url=https://neweralive.na/posts/traumatised-hamutenya-hints-at-withdrawing-charges |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=New Era |date=2021-12-01 |language=en}}

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".{{cite news |last1=Ndeyanale |first1=Eliaser |title=Former Mr Gay Namibia excited over same-sex marriage victory |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/former-mr-gay-namibia-excited-over-same-sex-marriage-victory/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Namibian |date=18 May 2023}} 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."{{cite news |title=Wendelinus hits back at Ovaherero Traditional Authority after 'Otjikaiva' uproar |url=https://www.observer24.com.na/wendelinus-hits-back-at-ovahererotraditional-authority-after-otjikaiva-uproar/ |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=Windhoek Observer |date=28 June 2023}}