International Gay Rodeo Association
The International Gay Rodeo Association, founded in 1985, is the sanctioning body for gay rodeos held throughout the United States and Canada. They are the largest group coordinating rodeo events specifically welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender as well as heterosexual participants and spectators. IGRA is composed of many regional gay rodeo associations, and sanctions a season of rodeo events which culminates in an annual World Gay Rodeo Finals. IGRA events are intended to allow all competitors, regardless of sexual and gender identity, to compete in rodeo sports without discrimination. The organization helps spread appreciation for Western culture and the sport of rodeo, while serving as a fundraising vehicle benefiting many charitable organizations.
Competitors compete for prize money and the title of All Around Cowboy and Cowgirl at each rodeo. The winners of each event receive trophy buckles designed by the hosting association. At season's end the contestants with the highest points in each event receive invitations to the World Gay Rodeo Finals presented by IGRA. The event was renamed in 2009 from the previous "International Gay Rodeo Finals" moniker it held from its onset in Hayward, California.
The original intent of these rodeos was fundraising, and while highly competitive and structured rodeos still serve the primary purpose of being fundraisers. The money raised at the rodeo is donated to the designated charities of each association. In total IGRA and all the associated associations have donated to furthering the individual causes of all charities that are benefactors of rodeo funds.
In 2010, the IGRA archives dating from 1975 were deposited in the library collection of the Autry National Center in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, which also houses the Museum of the American West.
The documentary film Queens & Cowboys follows the story of out cowboy, and others who compete in the IGRA. Earp discusses how he does not compete in rodeos outside IGRA because, "There's still a lot of homophobia. As progressive as we think the world's gotten, there's so much we have to conquer."
On November 9, 2014, CNN aired an episode of This Is Life with Lisa Ling that covered the Zia Regional Rodeo in Santa Fe, New Mexico, including profiles of several cowboys and cowgirls that are active on the IGRA circuit.
History
The first gay rodeo was held as a charity fundraising event at the Washoe County Fairgrounds in Reno, Nevada on October 2, 1976. The organizer, Phil Ragsdale, a member of the Imperial Court System, was the Court Emperor of Reno. In time, he came to be regarded as the "Father of Gay Rodeo."Ragsdale came up with the idea of a holding a rodeo to raise money for the local Thanksgiving Day food drive for senior citizens. Over 125 people took part in the first rodeo, and the winners were crowned King of the Cowboys, Queen of the Cowgirls, and Miss Dusty Spurs. The National Reno Gay Rodeo title was officially created in 1977, when he founded the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association. Following the Imperial courts lead Ragsdale added the "Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo" titles to aid in the fund raising that was to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. These titles still exist today but have been recognized as Mr., Ms., Miss., and MsTer International Gay Rodeo Association since the IGRA replaced the old National Reno format.
By 1984, the ninth and final National Reno Gay Rodeo brought out over 10,000 people to the rodeo grounds. The demise of the National Reno Rodeos is credited by the IRS as a dispute between the Gay Rodeo and the Washoe County Fairgrounds and the Sands Hotel. The rodeo books were also alleged to have been seized by the IRS.
History has recorded 14 gay rodeos prior to the formation of the International Gay Rodeo Association. The IGRA became truly international in 1993 when the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association from Canada joined.
In September 1985 with 10 years of rodeo history behind it, groups of men gathered in Denver, Colorado to formulate the history of Gay Rodeo. The five founding states of the International Gay Rodeo Association were Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona. These four associations seated the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association at its first convention held in the same year. The new Association elected Wayne Jakino from Colorado as its first President.
In 1987, IGRA's first International Finals Rodeo was held in Hayward, California. The name was changed to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in 2009.
Conventions, Presidents, and Royalty
A list of presidents and royalty elected at annual conventions since IGRA was founded in 1985:Year / Rodeos Held | Convention | President | Mr. IGRA | Ms. IGRA | Miss IGRA | MsTer IGRA | Finals Rodeo | Grand Marshals |
1985 | Denver | Wayne Jakino, CGRA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
1986 / 5 | Denver | Wayne Jakino | Gary Oliver, CGRA | Jeannie Nelson, CGRA | Fritz Capone, OGRA | -- | -- | -- |
1987 / 6 | Albuquerque | Les Krambeal, OGRA | Tony Lazano, TGRA | Dee Godwin, OGRA | Misty Michaels, KGRA | -- | Hayward, CA | Shanti Project |
1988 / 7 | Fort Worth | Les Krambeal | -- | -- | -- | -- | Reno, NV | Lynn Copeland & Wayne Jakino |
1989 / 7 | Albuquerque | Gerald Ford, TGRA | Jerry Hubbard, GSGRA | Connie Clovis, KGRA | Magnolia Spirits, CGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Ed Buck |
1990 / 7 | Wichita | Linn Copeland, KGRA | Larry Brumley, OGRA | Laura O'Neill, CGRA | Moosala, AGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Katie Southwick |
1991 / 10 | Albuquerque | Bob Pimentel, NMGRA | Scott Burleson, MGRA | Linda Sullo, GSGRA | Hollie Woods, AGRA | -- | Wichita, KS | The Names Project |
1992 / 13 | St. Paul | Bob Pimentel | Jim Carter, OGRA | RC Cuellar, CGRA | Roxie Heart, KGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Wayne Jakino |
1993 / 16 | Billings | Roger Bergmann, GSGRA | Ron Neff, CGRA | Dee Zuspann, KGRA | Chili Pepper, TGRA | -- | Fort Worth, TX | Gerald Ford |
1994 / 21 | Little Rock | Roger Bergmann | J.R. Duran, NMGRA | Joanne Bawiec, ASGRA | Miss Tessie, SEGRA | -- | Denver, CO | Greg Olson |
1995 / 22 | Chicago | Roger Bergmann | Mark Burdine, NMGRA | Desiree Gronwald, CGRA | DeShannon, TGRA | -- | Denver, CO | Roger Bergmann |
1996 / 20 | Omaha | Tom Vance, NSGRA | Michael Vrooman, CGRA | Shugar Vigil, NMGRA | Naomi La'Rell, CGRA | -- | Albuquerque, NM | Connie Lee |
1997 / 18 | Salt Lake City | Tom Vance | Tommy Channel, CGRA | Sherry Reedy, AGRA | Tori Hart, CGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Tom Vance |
1998 / 20 | Baltimore | Linda Frazier, KGRA | Kurt McGregor, AGRA | Tamara Marks, MIGRA | Beverly DeMarco, NMGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Glenn Gore |
1999 / 19 | Long Beach | Linda Frazier | Douglas Graff, GSGRA | Laura Scott, NGRA | DeShannon, NGRA | -- | Little Rock, AR | Ron Trusley |
2000 / 17 | Las Vegas | Craig Allen Rouse, GSGRA | Daniel Lusk, ASGRA | Lonni LaBel, ASGRA | Harley Quinn, ILGRA | -- | Albuquerque, NM | Thom Sloan |
2001 / 17 | Long Beach | Craig Allen Rouse | Michael Cunningham, ILGRA | Erin Leavey, SEGRA | Victoria London, AGRA | -- | Palm Springs, CA | Jose Sarria, aka "The Widow Norton" |
2002 / 19 | Cleveland | Craig Allen Rouse | Mark Larson, NSGRA | Lize MacDonald, NGRA | Bianca St John, CGRA | -- | Wichita, KS | Fritz Capone |
2003 / 19 | Phoenix | Craig Allen Rouse | David Westman, CGRA | Mary Munger, CGRA | Jada McRae, ILGRA | -- | Tulsa, OK | Patrick Terry |
2004 / 20 | Denver | Craig Allen Rouse | Eric Hanson, GSGRA | Julie Brown, DSRA | Mandy Barbarell, MGRA | -- | Omaha, NE | Tamara Marks |
2005 / 20 | Calgary | Brian Helander, AGRA | Ken Pool, CGRA | Gaylia Young, AGRA | Pussy LeHoot, AGRA | -- | Dallas, TX | James Ramey |
2006 / 20 | Nashville | Brian Helander | Steve Wollert, GSGRA | Kimberley Kay, CGRA | Jymmye Jaymes, ASGRA | -- | Reno, NV | Keith Ann, Mitch Gill |
2007 / 18 | Kansas City | Brian Helander | Clyde Mitter, CGRA | -- | Destiny B. Childs, ASGRA | -- | Denver, CO | Wayne Jakino |
2008 / 20 | New Orleans | Brian Helander | Gary Rushton, AGRA | -- | Janet Jenkins, CGRA | -- | Denver, CO | John King |
2009 / 16 | Toronto | Brian Helander | Wade Earp, TGRA | Sharon Starks, AGRA | Aspen Vail, CGRA | Rocket Coxx, CGRA | Albuquerque, NM | Lorrie Murphy |
2010 / 17 | Reno | Brian Helander | Roger Courtemanche, CGRA | -- | Ionna Doublewide, AGRA | -- | Laughlin, NV | Lorry King |
2011 / 15 | San Diego | Doug Graff, NGRA | Michael Butts, AGRA | Sharon Starks, AGRA | Kimberli Foxx, NGRA | -- | Fort Worth, TX | David Hill |
2012 / 15 | Las Vegas | Doug Graff, NGRA | Rodd Smunk, TGRA | Kami Boles, MGRA | Victoria Weston, TGRA | Shane Lee, MGRA | Fort Worth, TX | Frank Harrell/Ty Teigen |
2013 / 14 | San Diego | Ed Barry, ILGRA | Frank Thompson, OGRA | -- | Sabel D'Zyre, NGRA | -- | Fort Worth, TX | Mitch Gill |
2014 / 13 | Denver | Ed Barry, ILGRA | Jeff Germany, OGRA | Pauline Chavez, CGRA | Katrina Davenport, NGRA | Rocki Heffa, TGRA | Fort Worth, TX | Janie Van Santen |
2015 / 11 | St Petersburg | Bruce Gros | Andrew Johnson, CGRA | -- | Luxx Bentley, OGRA | Preston, NGRA | Las Vegas, NV | Brian Rogers |
2016 / 10 | Austin | Bruce Gros | Thomas McCarthy, FGRA | Mary Honeycutt, TGRA | Madison Devereux, TGRA | Macc Country, OGRA | Las Vegas, NV | Ed Berry |
2017 / 11 | Little Rock | Bruce Gros | Mark Christensen, OGRA | Allyson Paige Henery, GPRA | Kelly ONeil, TGRA | - - | Albuquerque, NM | TBD |
2018 / TBA | Salt Lake City | Candy Pratt | Tre' Brewbaker, NMGRA 1st RU- Chris Tobin CGRA 2nd RU- Tony Schwartz NSGRA | Tamra Kelly, TGRA, 1st RU Christi Mikels | Mipsy Mikels, AGRA 1st RU- Marie Antoinette DuBarryNMGRA 2nd RU- Phat Patty NGRA | RJ Mikels, AGRA | Scottsdale, AZ | TBA |
- Note: In 1988, "A contract with a private ranch sixty miles east of Reno was made void when the local homophobic District Attorney filed an injunction two days before the rodeo in order to stop the event. Two days in court as well as a trip to the Nevada Supreme Court failed to overturn the injunction," according to the IGRA website. As a result, no finals were held that year.
Royalty Team
A change to royalty competition rules in 2015 requires a contestant to compete in four of five categories. The five areas of competition are:
- Personal Interview - Mandatory
- Western wear modeling - Mandatory
- Public Presentation and On-Stage Question - Mandatory
- Horsemanship Skill - Required if not competing in Entertainment
- Public Entertainment - Required if not competing in Horsemanship
Criticism
State and Regional rodeo associations
Current associations
Rodeos under the IGRA umbrella are organized into four divisions and more than two dozen regional associations:- AGRA - Arizona Gay Rodeo Association, Phoenix, founded 1984
- ARGRA - Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association, Calgary, founded 1991
- ASGRA - Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association, Alexandria, Virginia, founded 1991
- CGRA - Colorado Gay Rodeo Association, Denver, founded 1981
- CSGRA - Cotton States Gay Rodeo Association, Birmingham, founded 2012
- DSRA - Diamond State Rodeo Association, Little Rock, Arkansas
- FGRA - Florida Georgia Rodeo Association, St. Petersburg
- GSGRA - Golden State Gay Rodeo Association, Long Beach, California, founded 1984
- *Bay Area Chapter, San Francisco
- *Greater Palm Springs Chapter, founded 2000
- *Greater San Diego Chapter
- **the Sacramento area of California is covered by SCCGRA
- ILGRA - Illinois Gay Rodeo Association, Chicago
- KSGRA - Keystone State Gay Rodeo Association, Harrisburg, founded 2015
- LSGRA - Louisiana State Gay Rodeo Association, Bossier City, Pennsylvania
- MIGRA - Michigan International Gay Rodeo Association, Dearborn, founded 1994
- MGRA - Missouri Gay Rodeo Association, Kansas City, Missouri, founded 1986
- NGRA - Nevada Gay Rodeo Association, Las Vegas, founded 1992
- NMGRA - New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico, founded 1984
- NSGRA - North Star Gay Rodeo Association, St. Paul, founded 1989
- OGRA - Great Plains Rodeo Association, Oklahoma City, founded 1985
- RRRA - Red River Rodeo Association, Aubrey, Texas, founded 2003
- SCCGRA - Sacramento's Capital Crossroads Gay Rodeo Association, Sacramento, California
- SGRA - Sonoran Gay Rodeo Association, Tucson, Arizona
- TGRA - Texas Gay Rodeo Association, Fort Worth, founded 1984
- * Austin Chapter
- * Dallas Chapter
- * Fort Worth Chapter
- * Houston Chapter
- * San Antonio Chapter
- **includes the state of Texas except for several north-central counties covered by RRRA
Defunct associations
- Pacific Coast Gay Rodeo Association, loosely organized in 1980; replaced by Golden State Gay Rodeo Association in 1984
- Cowboy State Rodeo Association, founded 1988, name changed the following year to Big Sky Gay Rodeo Association ; dissolved 1998
- Oregon Gay Rodeo Association, seated at 1988 IGRA convention; replaced by Northwest Gay Rodeo Association in 1990
- Utah Gay Rodeo Association, seated at 1989 IGRA convention; dissolved 2006
- Northwest Gay Rodeo Association, seated at 1990 IGRA convention; reorganized as Pacific Northwest Gay Rodeo Association
- Tri-State Gay Rodeo Association, founded 1990, dissolved 1995
- Silver State Gay Rodeo Association ; reorganized as Nevada Gay Rodeo Association, 1992
- Pennsylvania Gay Rodeo Association seated at 1995 IGRA convention; name and coverage changed to PONYGRA in 1999; dissolved 2007
Competitions
Rules
Most associations host at least one annual rodeo. All associations must follow the rules of conduct as outlined in the IGRA Rodeo Rule Book, the first edition of which was published in 1985. These rules are often updated and ratified at season's end when delegates from each association gather at the IGRA annual convention. The purpose of the convention is to elect new officers, create new rules and bylaws, and seat new associations.Each of the thirteen events has a set of rules that must be followed in order for contestants to score points and to qualify for the year end finals. Unlike in traditional rodeos, contestants are allowed to compete in all events regardless of sex. Buckles are awarded to the top male and female competitors in each event, as well as buckles for Rookie of the Year and for All-Around Cowboy and All-Around Cowgirl.
Rough Stock Events
- Bull riding
- Steer riding
- Chute Dogging or Steer wrestling
- Bareback bronc riding
Roping Events
- Calf roping on Foot
- Mounted Breakaway roping
- Team roping
Speed Events
- Barrel racing
- Pole bending
- Flag Racing
Camp Events
- Wild Drag Race
- Goat Dressing
- Steer Decorating