Jesse Bashem Wins Mr. Gay International and the Mr. Gay 2006 USA

PALM SPRINGS – And the winner is: Mr. San Diego!
The first-ever Mr. Gay International and the Mr. Gay 2006 USA titles were awarded to the same man, Jesse Bashem, 21, of San Diego Saturday night at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs.
The contest – one of many held in Palm Springs, including Mrs. America and Miss Teen USA – is not easy to win.
Twelve finalists in this “boy next door” pageant are scored on rock-climbing and rappelling, timed completion of the fireman’s obstacle course, talents ranging from poetry reading to gymnastics, and of course, swimsuit.
After an exhausting weekend of climbing rocks at Joshua Tree National Park, dragging fire dummies against the clock and performing onstage before a packed house of more than 400, it was a tie-breaker vote on Saturday night, organizers said.
With Mr. San Diego and Mr. Austria – Aaron Michael Jackson, 32, in a tie for the Mr. Gay International title, the judges had to take a moment to do a tiebreaker.
The title ultimately went to Bashem, a gymnastics coach and surfer from San Diego, who had already won the Mr. Gay USA title earlier. Austria’s Jackson was first runner-up and Germany’s Suat Bahceci was second runner-up.
Robert (Bobby) Ficco Jr., 26, of Palm Springs, was named Mr. Congeniality in a vote by his peers.
Bashem did a gymnastics routine for his talent selection. Jackson, who already holds the Mr. Gay Swim Wear title in Mr. Gay Europe, did a poetry reading. But during the tie-breaker judges’ consultation, the stage equivalent of what broadcasters call “dead air” took place. There they were – a dozen pageant contestants on-stage in bathing suits – with no rehearsed number.
Mr. New York – Mike Wasileski, 28, – had an idea, according to Chris Kingery, spokesman for the event.
A veteran of Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS – Wasileski suggested the contestants do what they do at Broadway fund-raisers: dance for dollars.
In less than five minutes $500 was raised for The Trevor Project, which operates a suicide prevention hotline for gay and questioning teens. The Trevor Project also benefited from a reception hosted by Instinct Magazine Friday night at Marc Ware’s mid-century home in Vista Las Palmas.
Judges for the pageant included Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden, State Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, real estate developer Scott Unger, and independent film director Dirk Shafer.
The contestants for the pageant came from countries as far away as Bosnia and Herzegovina and included the reigning Mr. Gay Europe 2005, David Thorkildsen of Norway.
The evening was hosted by television actor and super stylist Robert Laughlin.
Bobby Ficco’s Mr. Congeniality win led Mayor Oden to comment, “How gratifying to see a Palm Springs resident recognized for what the city prides itself on, a friendly nurturing community to all the world’s visitors.”
The Mr. Gay competition in Palm Springs probably won’t be the last.
“Competitions such as these have been popular in Europe for years and we’re thrilled to now have a U.S.-based component looking for the ‘boy next door’ to represent the broader gay community,” said Producer Don Spradlin.
The contest will be aired on cable by Palm Springs-based Q-Television. A documentary film company also recorded the event.
“The winner will serve as a spokesman to raise the visibility of gay men, humanize gays in the media, create a positive role model and confront homophobia in today’s culture,” Spradlin said.
The company producing this national network of competitions is Community Promotions, a California LLC owned and operated by Managing Partners Spradlin and Thomas Roth.
They plan to provide a professional and wholesome series of contests and grow the network over the years to include many more city and state contests.
from The Desert Sun