Gay rodeos build community after facing HIV crisis
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In Santa Fe, New Mexico, the New Mexico Gay Rodeo Association hosted its 34th annual Zia Regional Rodeo, where men and women compete equally in events like chute dogging and bull riding.
For fifty years, gay rodeos have offered an inclusive space for LGBTQ+ athletes, differing from traditional rodeos that often segregate events by gender. Eighteen-year-old Kenzie Garcia achieved a personal goal at the rodeo, successfully completing a steer wrestle after years of practice and competing at four previous rodeos.
The International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) formed in 1976 and now comprises hundreds of regular competitors and several thousand members. The IGRA faced significant losses during the HIV pandemic, but responded by raising funds to support those affected by the virus and has since rebuilt the circuit, expanding philanthropic efforts to include women’s health and other causes. Brian Contratto, a competitor from Austin, Texas, found bull riding helped him cope with depression, and values the intergenerational community within the IGRA.
Harry Children, a newcomer to the sport, noted the welcoming atmosphere of gay rodeos, where participants feel free to express themselves without judgment, creating a space of “rodeo without expectations.” Garcia won the fastest time of the day in women’s steer wrestling, and was celebrated by her fellow competitors. The World Gay Rodeo Finals will take place October 22-25 in El Reno, Oklahoma.
