Many of us in the gay community are familiar with the “Imperial Court” system that exists in many larger cities around the country. The idea for a “gay rodeo” originated with Phil Ragsdale in 1975. As the “Court Emperor” of Reno, Nevada, Ragsdale decided to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association by means of a gay rodeo. The first available date at the Washoe County Fairgrounds was October 2nd, 1976, and Ragsdale began planning at once. At first, he was not able to find any farmers or ranchers willing to lease livestock for a gay rodeo, but eventually the animals were secured and the rodeo went on as scheduled. There were not very many contestants or spectators that first year, but Ragsdale decided to keep it as an annual event. The event became known as the National Reno Gay Rodeo and every year thousands of dollars were raised for Muscular Dystrophy through competition of the titles of Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo.
According to Reno Gay Rodeo, in 1981, an energetic group of Texas contestants attended the Reno rodeo. During the weekend, Miss Texas bumped into Wayne Jakino of Denver, Colorado. “She” ridiculed Wayne because of the small representation from Colorado, and Wayne vowed that the next year his state would show up in force. One-month later Wayne, Ron Jesser, and seven other men formed the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association (CGRA).
When Colorado returned to the 1982 National Reno Gay Rodeo they were 400 strong, including a mounted drill team and some 43 contestants. Comedienne Joan Rivers was the Grand Marshall that year, and there were over 10,000 spectators in the grandstands. The contestants from Colorado gained support from other contestants to push for uniform rules in order to improve the quality of the rodeo.
That following winter, a group from Colorado traveled to Houston to encourage the formation of the Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) and a rodeo in that part of the country. Texas promised to support Colorado if they would lead the way with their own rodeo. On June 3rd, 1983, Denver became the second city in the U.S. to host a gay rodeo. Many contestants came from Texas and California to the first Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo, only to experience torrential rain throughout the weekend. But the rodeo went on anyway! They had all been through too much to let a little water stop the festivities. In late June, the TGRA was formed and scheduled their first rodeo for the following year. The Eighth National Reno Gay Rodeo was held in August with the largest number of gay dance groups ever assembled at a rodeo and the grandstands filled with over 12,000 people.
In 1984 the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) was formed in California. That was also the year of the Ninth Annual National Reno Gay Rodeo, which was the last rodeo held in that city due to financial difficulties. In November of that year, Texas held their first rodeo a few miles outside of Houston and in December, the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association (AGRA) was organized in Phoenix.
In March of 1985, gay rodeo moved to the West Coast as GSGRA hosted their first rodeo at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. The rodeo organizations from Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona decided that it was time to have more uniformity in their rodeos and scheduled a convention in order to standardize rules and objectives of their associations. In September, the convention was held in Denver, where the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association (OGRA) was seated as the fifth Member Association, the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) was formed, and Jakino was elected as the Founding President.
The International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) currently has 20 Member Associations representing 25 states, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces. IGRA is going strong and hope that you will get involved with one of our Member Associations or perhaps promote the formation of a new association where IGRA is not active.
Dateline Palm Springs
With the downturn of the economy we have had great difficulty in obtaining sponsorships this year, so in a State Board conference call with G.S.G.R.A. it was determined that a postponement of this year’s Hot Rodeo be placed in effect.
“G.S.G.R.A. will miss all of you who were planning on attending but hope to see you all next year for Hot Rodeo 2011″.
Rodeos are uniquely American and have a long history, dating back to the early 1700′s. The first gay rodeo was held in Reno, Nevada, in 1976, and today has grown into an organized circuit with competitions across the United States and Canada.
The rodeos, which draw thousand of participants and spectators, have now become major tourism events for many cities – providing visitors not only the opportunity to experience world class sporting events but to experience new destinations.
2010 Gay Rodeo Calendar
* February 12 – 14, 2010: Road Runner Regional Rodeo, Phoenix (Chandler), AZ
* April 16 – 18, 2010: Sunshine Stampede, Fort Lauderdale (Davie), FL
* April 30 – May 2, 2010: Hot Rodeo, Palm Springs (Banning), CA CANCELED
* May 28 – 30, 2010: Great Plains Rodeo, Oklahoma City, OK
* June 11 – 13, 2010: Gateway Regional Rodeo, St. Louis (Caseyville), MO
* June 11 – 13, 2010: Sierra Stampede, Sacramento (Rio Linda), CA
* June 25 – 27, 2010: Greater Motown International Rodeo, Detroit (Belleville), MI
* July 2 – 4, 2010: Canadian Rockies International Rodeo, Calgary (Strathmore), Canada
* July 9 – 11, 2010: Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo, Denver (Golden), CO
* July 23 – 25, 2010: Zia Regional Rodeo, Albuquerque, NM
* August 13 – 15, 2010: Best Buck in the Bay, San Francisco (La Honda), CA
* August 20 – 22, 2010: Windy City Rodeo, Chicago (Crete), IL
* September 3 – 5, 2010: MGRA Show-Me State Rodeo, Kansas City, MO
* September 10 – 12, 2010: Big D Rodeo, Dallas (Alvarado), TX
* September 10 – 12, 2010: Greater San Diego Rodeo, San Diego (Lakeside), CA
* October 1 – 3, 2010: T-Town Rodeo, Tulsa (Sperry), OK
* October 21 – 24, 2010: IGRA World Gay Rodeo Finals, Laughlin, NV
International Rodeo, Detroit (Belleville), MI
July 2 – 4, 2010: Canadian Rockies International Rodeo, Calgary (Strathmore), Canada
July 9 – 11, 2010: Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo, Denver (Golden), CO
July 23 – 25, 2010: Zia Regional Rodeo, Albuquerque, NM
August 13 – 15, 2010: Best Buck in the Bay, San Francisco (La Honda), CA
August 20 – 22, 2010: Windy City Rodeo, Chicago (Crete), IL
September 3 – 5, 2010: MGRA Show-Me State Rodeo, Kansas City, MO
September 10 – 12, 2010: Big D Rodeo, Dallas (Alvarado), TX
September 10 – 12, 2010: Greater San Diego Rodeo, San Diego (Lakeside), CA
October 1 – 3, 2010: T-Town Rodeo, Tulsa (Sperry), OK
October 21 – 24, 2010: IGRA World Gay Rodeo Finals, Laughlin, NV
For more information on the Gay Rodeo Circuit check out International Gay Rodeo Association
