Interim Mr. Gay World a Heroic Doctor Who Battled COVID-19

It's been known since mid-March that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Gay World 2020 would not be crowned until next year, and that he and Mr. Gay World 2021 would rule concurrently for the traditional yearlong term. That news was announced by the Mr. Gay World organizers in a March 14 press release. But since then, a new twist has emerged - one that carries with it a distinct aura of heroism.

The plan was for Mr. Gay World 2019, Janjep Carlos, to leave the post at the same time if the contest for 2020 had gone on as originally planned - at the end of April - and for 2019's first runner-up, Spanish hunk Francisco Alvarado, to serve as in interim titleholder until next year's Mr. Gay World 2020 could officially be selected.

View this post on Instagram

Este fin de semana estuve en el #RetiroOrlanders ?????????????????? con otros 48 chicos gays. Un fin de semana en el que hicimos entrenamiento funcional, estiramientos, senderismo y talleres sobre nutrici�n y motivaci�n personal. Todo ello en un entorno natural perfecto para recordar esas actividades de ocio que hac�amos de peque�os cuando nos �bamos de campamento para hacer deporte y convivir con otras personas alejados un poco de las redes sociales. Precisamente, yo tuve la suerte de poder dar una charla sobre las redes sociales y las apariencias. Utilic� esta imagen de una de las sesiones de fotos, en la que el fot�grafo sin consultarme hizo zoom en mis partes nobles y public� as� la foto, distorsionando la realidad y potenciando los complejos f�sicos que podamos tener. Yo le ped� la foto original sin photoshop, pero la hab�a borrado. As� que, decid� publicar la foto con el emoticono del pollito. No todo lo que aparece en las redes sociales es lo que parece ni debemos prejuzgar sin conocer a las personas. Nadie es tan perfecto ni lleva la vida tan perfecta que se proyecta en las redes sociales. Para m� ha sido un aut�ntico placer convivir con todos y he disfrutado como un ni�o. Estoy encantado de haber conocido a personas como @currocanete y se merece una menci�n especial @fabri_orlandi por organizar un evento tan chulo. GRACIAS, no veo el momento de apuntarme al pr�ximo #retiroorlanders ??????????????????

A post shared by ??????????Fran Alvarado ?????????????? (@fj_alv) on Oct 14, 2019 at 11:29am PDT

Alvarado isn't just another pretty face, though. He's also a physician - and, like many medical health professionals, he's been on the front lines of the global COVID-19 pandemic, doing battle with the virus and working to save lives.

View this post on Instagram

Y no hay que ser un lince para darse cuenta de que he engordado, pero a�n as� hay gente empecinada en record�rmelo y sentencian que no soy capaz de mostrarme en peores versiones. Pues aqu� va otra prueba m�s de ello, sin retoques digitales y luciendo mis 87 kg con una gran sonrisa. Es triste que personas con poca autoestima y MUCHAS inseguridades, en vez de trabajar su propia inteligencia emocional y querer m�s, se empe�en en sobresalir sobre los dem�s sacando a relucir las debilidades de otrxs y est�n dispuestos a pisotear a quien se les cruce en el camino. En ese aspecto, por suerte, soy consciente de mi cuerpo, de sus versiones y de las circunstancias que lo acompa�an. �Qu� es mejor y qu� peor? �Cu�l es el orden de las prioridades en tu vida? �Qu� nos hace m�s o menos felices? Pues no es cuesti�n de centrar todo el protagonismo en el f�sico, ni es necesario exhibirse, pero por redes sociales es lo que nos entra por los ojos. Usamos esta superficialidad como referente en nuestro d�a a d�a, aunque nos haga sentir inferiores, aunque demos por hecho que mostramos nuestros mejores momentos por Instagram. Nos seguimos ci�endo en exclusiva a este escaparate, sin hacer referencia a otros aspectos de la vida menos est�ticos, que no aparecen y que dar�an realismo a esta realidad virtual. Nos justificamos y tiramos balones fuera. Apariencias, complejos, ansiedad, envidias, depresiones... todo ello engranado en el seno de una sociedad, cada d�a, con menos habilidades de comunicaci�n y m�s prejuicios. �Claro que tengo prejuicios! Cada vez que me enfrento a un/a paciente nuevx o conozco a alguien. Y me esfuerzo en romperlos, en trabajar ese margen que permite a otrxs darse a conocer y que nuestras impresiones, por fin, tengan fundamento. Oportunidades porque yo tambi�n hago y har� cosas mal... s� tan poco de tantos temas... lloro tantas veces de emoci�n... necesito desconectar tantas veces para recargar las pilas... me rio tantas veces de m�... Que cada d�a me da menos miedo mostrarme como soy, de verdad. Cada vez busco m�s la felicidad de ser libre ???????????????????????? #CU�NTASELOALAPAKA

A post shared by ??????????Fran Alvarado ?????????????? (@fj_alv) on Nov 2, 2019 at 8:47am PDT

But, as many medical personnel have, Alvarado himself became sick with the disease, media sites reported. His symptoms followed a familiar progression, beginning with a dry cough on March 10, followed on March 11 by body aches. As his symptoms worsened, Alvarado got tested for COVID-19 and the test confirmed that he had contracted the virus.

Spanish language medical news site Redacci�n M�dica covered the story of the heroic health worker, reporting that Alvarado had to spend 19 days in quarantine.

The medical new site did not shy away from Dr. Alvarado's Mr. Gay World connection. Alvarado spoke frankly about how being both a prominent figure in the gay world and a physician could create, for some, a cognitive dissonance:

"This type of contest, this recreational activity can raise questions about your professionalism; you are not the [typical] healthcare model that stands out with things that have to do with the profession. There are people who question this, that you also participate in something that stands apart from medicine. But there is also [an opportunity for] community work here, for education of the public."

The article also quoted the good doctor at length as he spoke about how he'd like to speak out from the platform of interim titleholder to push back against homophobia.

"We must continue working against [homophobia] in healthcare, and in general. It is not exclusive to the health care profession. It was 30 years ago yesterday that the World Health Organization (WHO) delisted homosexuality as a mental illness.

"Even so, still today in 2020, there are still claims about conversion therapies [that purport] to cure homosexuality."

Such so-called "conversion" or "reparative therapies" have been roundly denounced by reputable health professionals, who warn that the quack practice is utterly ineffectual and can lead to significant harm to vulnerable people who undergo such programs in hopes of being "turned straight."

Dr. Alvarado recovered his health in time to take on his responsibilities as interim Mr. Gay World - and it would seem he is focused on promoting well-being that dispels harmful myths about gays.