Attending the North Star Gay Rodeo Association’s Rodeo

“A lot of times it can be really hard, but you can be a cowboy and still be gay and be who you are. You don’t have to hide it.” Says Chris Sherman, a member of the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association in Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo.  

The North Star Gay Rodeo Association is a non-profit founded in October 1989. Since then they have joined IGRA (The Internation Gay Rodeo Association,) hosted over 15 IGRA-sanctioned rodeos, and have raised tens of thousands for charity with no paid staff. “I think it’s real important for people to be able to compete and be open and after your ride or after your event jump the fence and kiss the lover of your choice.” Douglas Graff IGRA President says in Queens & Cowboys. “The challenge for each of us is to find where we fit, for a lot of people it’s rodeo.” 

The rodeo was held over 3 days, with the opportunity for people to camp overnight in between them. It kicked off Friday, July 26th with registration and a drag show, then continued Saturday with the rodeo itself and music. Sunday, the 28th was the last day and included the rodeo and awards ceremony. “It was good, it was gay, it was hot,” said Alexis Irish, rodeo attendee. 

The rodeo itself consisted of calf roping on foot, chute dogging, mounted break-away roping, team roping, steer deco, pole bending, steer riding, goat dressing, barrel racing, flay racing, a wild drag race, and bull riding. 

“The gay rodeo was beautiful, my first rodeo, great first rodeo experience. Everyone was so nice and happy to be there. I loved it.” said Hannah Mitchell, a first-time rodeo attendee.