This year the The Eric Butter Mr. Gay World Philanthropy Award got a royal touch.

Each year Mr. Gay World awards The Eric Butter Mr. Gay World Philanthropy Award to a person in the country where the international final takes place.

This year we asked leaders and spokespersons in the gay community of Norway to nominate a candidate. This year’s winner got more nominations than all the other nominees jointly.

The Eric Butter Mr. Gay World Philanthropy Award:

The Eric Butter Philanthropy Award is given to an individual that posses extraordinary selflessness to the greater community in moving diversity acceptance forward.  This individual is a leader and inspires those around him/her to be their very best.

The goal of the award is to bring public recognition to dynamic individuals from around the world, whose values infuse their humanitarian accomplishments, and provide inspiration to the next generations specifically in diversity issues with the LGBT and/or HIV/AIDS community.

We are looking for today’s LGBT heroes. Next generation leaders who have a vision for change that will better the world in a meaningful way, and who have created a mechanism for acting on that vision in ways that deliver measurable results. We evaluate that against the following criteria:

• Today’s LGBT heroes whose values and regard for humanity serve as an inspiration for the next generations.

• Next generation leaders who have a vision for change that will better the world in a meaningful way;

• Nominees who have created a mechanism for acting on their vision in ways that deliver measurable results; and,

• Nominees who exhibit innovation, leadership and impact in their chosen field.

The Eric Butter Mr. Gay World Philanthropy Award 2010

The Eric Butter Philanthropy Award recognizes the contribution of an individual whose generosity helps promote tolerance, acceptance and diversity in our community.

This year’s recipient is dynamic, committed to humanitarian values and is an inspiring role model.

She was born and raised in Norway. By her own admission she went through an “unconventional phase” after university and has worked in a café and as a journalist. In the late 90s she attended a rock concert where she met her future husband.

Since marrying she has devoted time to numerous charities but most notably in the field of HIV and AIDS. She is a Special Representative to UNAIDS, The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS, and has established a humanitarian fund that has contributed to AIDS prevention in Mozambique, the National Community Of Women Living With AIDS in Uganda, and the AIDS Centre Project Bus in Russia. She has served as a jury member on the UNAIDS Red Ribbon Award, and she is a great friend to the gay and lesbian community.

This year’s recipient of the Eric Butter Mr. Gay World Philanthropy Award is Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.

(Photo: Jo Michael, Det Kongelige Hoff)