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F E AT U R E
An Easterner's Guide to
The idea is for the rider to stay on the bull
by Patsy Lynch
It was the simplicity of the ad that
attracted my eye: a pair of dusty boots,
rope and a hat. The text announced the
annual rodeo in Phoenix. It took me a
moment to realize that this was a gay
rodeo.
As a child, I spent hours in front of the
TV watching cowboy shows, pulling out
my trusty six-shooter to assist my heroes
win their battles and ride off into the elec
tronic sunset. When my parents dragged
me outside, my playmates and I would
reenact those scenes on our streets, the
sound of cap pistols echoing those sounds
we had heard earlier. Years later, I had
the opportunity to visit and sometimes
live in the western towns I had once seen.
I wore western clothes, including boots
and hats, though not the "official" cowgirl
kind, and I attended rodeos, but they
seemed to lack something.
Now living on the East coast, I felt an
urge to rediscover that missing element.
Rodeos, traditionally, serve as a place
where cowboys and cowgirls display the
skills that they use on the ranch. Calf rop
ing, bronco riding and steer wrestling
have their foundations in controlling and
branding the cattle. Other contests, such
as barrel racing and pole bending show
off the skills of the rider and his/her horse.
In traditional rodeo, women are usually
excluded from "rough stock" events, i.e.,
bareback riding, bull riding and chute dig
ging (steer wrestling).
But in gay rodeos everyone is invited
to participate in all the events and run the
risk of getting trampled or gorged.
Rodeos, like other sports have required
costumes: boots, hats, jeans (sorry kids,
Wranglers not Levi's are the choice of
"real" cowpokes) and various kinds of
ropes. The contestants do refer to them
selves as cowboys and cowgirls (except
for the drag queens and no one is sure
how to refer to them) and take exception
to those who try and call them cowper-
sons. Horses are here in abundance (the
quarter horse is the equine of choice) and
one can ease drop in on conversations
concerning the best way to treat strains,
deal with colic or stand a horse to stud.
And there is the on-going argument
about which boot is best for which event.
I discovered that a short pair of boots with
a flat heel, called ropers, seem to be the
shoe of choice inside the ring. Outside,
it's a different story. Boots, like hats, are a
reflection of the person's identity. At the
rodeo, I spied a range of footware that ran
the gamut from psychedelic nightmares to
boots that would drive a member of
Greenpeace to despair. Most gay rodeoers,
however, seem to favor a simple, brush
suede or solid cowhide with a Unitarian
heel.
The level of competition in Phoenix
rivaled any straight, professional rodeo.
Many of the contestants are former or cur
rent members of the professional rodeo
association, often sporting jackets and
assorted belt buckles attesting to their
accomplishments. The crowds were
enthusiastic and friendly, more than will
ing to explain the subtlety of a particular
event. "The idea is for the rider to stay on
the bull.”
After a hard day of riding or cheering,
the Rodeo
the crowds and competitors move indoors
and dance. Never having successfully
mastered the Texas-two-step (I add an
extra step), I watched the swirls of fringe
on the dance floor. A few cowgirls asked
me to dance and, after I speared them with
my toes, (now I know why boots cover
the ankles) would limp off into the sunset.
Others, less interested in the aerobic activ
ity spent time scanning the rows of cow
boy kitsch in search of a trinket to give to
a new boy/girlfriend as an expression of
undying lust.
The highlight of the weekend was the
awards ceremony. Here the ribbons,
money and buckles were awarded.
Buckles winners became little kids, dart
ing amongst their friends, showing off the
prize and in some cases, having the newly
acquired buckle replace the current one
being wom. To a cowboy/girl, a buckle is
prized above all other possessions, a sym
bol of accomplishment and respectability.
A cowboy/girl whose house was ablaze
would most likely save his or her buckle
collection before all else, or so I am told.
There are a few does and don'ts one
should observe when attending a rodeo.
Do wear jeans, I prefer Levi's, but then I
am an East coast kid. You should wear a
hat, the sun gets hot and you can use the
hat to wave at a cute guy or gal or flies.
Carry a kerchief. The colors do not have
the same meaning as they do in bars,
though I did see a lot of reds and dark
blues. Boots are optional but shy away
from open-toe shoes or extremely high
heels unless you are in drag. Sneakers are
alright but difficult to clean. Finally, stay
away from polyester, it's tacky.
Patsy Lynch
If you love country and western music
and can do the two-step, you will have no
problems. Chewing tobacco appears to be
falling out of favor (thank God) but if you
do "dip," Skoal seems to be preferred.
Finally, never ask a cowboy/girl about
how long he/she can stay in the saddle,
he/she is likely to leer at you and respond,
"ohhh.. .about 8 seconds."
Peach State rodeo fans will be
pleased to know that Southeastern Gay
Rodeo Association has recently been
formed. Interested cowboys and cowgirls
can call 874-6556for more info.
r
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Southern Voice/February 14, 1991
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