‘Go West young gay’ – a city-slicker’s guide to Colorado’s Gay Rodeo July 12-14
Just as Colorado’s heritage is tied to the old West, so too is the state’s LGBT community. Colorado is, in fact, the birthplace of the modern gay rodeo circuit. While the first gay rodeo was held in Reno, Nevada in 1976, it was a group of Colorado cowboys who pushed for standardized rules and helped establish the International Gay Rodeo Association, in 1985. Other founding western neighbors include Texas, California and Arizona. Now it’s 31st year, the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association is ready to giddy up at the Jefferson County Fair Grounds July 12, 13 and 14.
AGENDA:
Thursday, July 11
Colorado Gay Rodeo Association Board Meeting, 6 p.m., Charlie’s, 900 E. Colfax Ave.
CGRA membership meeting, 8 p.m., Charlie’s
Kick–off party, hosted by Blue Moon (the drag queen, not the beer) and Nuclia Waste, featuring present and past CGRA royalty and friend’s of the rodeo, 8 p.m., Charlie’s
Friday, July 12
Contestant Registration, all day, Jefferson County Fair Grounds
International Gay Rodeo Association Board of Directors Meeting, 10 a.m., Fair Grounds
Ty Teigen Memorial Barrel Race, 6 p.m., Fairgrounds, free
Saturday, July 13
31st Annual Colorado Gay Rodeo, 10 a.m., Fairgrounds
Sunday, July 14
31st Annual Colorado Gay Rodeo, 10 a.m., Fairgrounds
Don’t Miss: The Rodeo is operated almost entirely by volunteers. Organizers, royalty, members of the International circuit and volunteers are all recognized during the Grand Entry, which follows the Chute Dogging event.
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THE EVENTS:
The following events will begin at 10 a.m. both days at the fairgrounds:
Calf Roping on Foot
Steer Decorating
Mounted Break-Away Roping
Team Roping
Steer Riding
Pole Bending
Chute Dogging
Bareback Bronc Riding
Goat Dressing
Barrel Racing
Flag Racing
Wild Drag Race
Bull Riding
TICKETS:
$14 each day or $20 for a weekend pass
COW TIP: Keep you eye open for out-of-town guests at Charlie’s and the Wrangler, favorite watering holes for rodeo participants.
DIRECTIONS:
From downtown Denver Follow Sixth Avenue West to Indiana Street. Turn left on Indiana Street, drive under Sixth Avenue and at second stoplight turn right on to Sixth Avenue Frontage Road.
Coming West on Interstate 70 West, exit 262, Colfax Street. Take the down hill ramp, at the light turn left onto West Colfax Avenue. Go east. At the second stoplight, Colorado Mills/Denver West Boulevard and Indiana Street, turn right. At the fifth traffic light, Sixth Avenue Frontage road, turn right.
Coming East on I-70 take Exit 261, Sixth Avenue East. Stay in your right hand lane, it immediately becomes the exit ramp to Indiana Street. Take the Indiana Street exit. Turn right onto Indiana Street and then turn right onto the Sixth Avenue Frontage Road.
GET THE LOOK:
While a cowboy’s hat and boots are essential survival tools on the range, they also make fantastic accessories. CGRA members we spoke with all highly recommended Shepler’s, 10300 Bannock St. in Northglenn, as the retail outlet of choice. CBS4 viewers also recommended Rocky Mountain Clothing Company, 8500 Zuni St., and Rockmount Ranch Wear, 1626 Wazee St. at top spots to update your western wardrobe.
COW TIP: For a sneak peek at the live stock … we mean … cowboys coming to town, check out HomoRodeo.com. It’s like Grindr for cowboys and the men who love.
COW TIP: While Mr. CGRA 2013 Karl Wessley has been spotted in sandals, he highly recommends not wearing flip-flops to the rodeo.
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COWBOY SURVIVAL GUIDE:
Wear sunscreen
Drink water
Don’t touch another man’s cowboy hat
Watch out for manure!
COWBOY SPEAK:
“There’s a little bit of everything, for everybody to see. We have horse and roping events, camp events like a wild drag race and goat dressing. But, if there is one event to really feel the energy of rodeo, it’s the bull riding. We might not have a lot of bull riders, but people are just engrossed in the event.”
Rich Valdez, Vice President CGRA, on what to expect at the rodeo
“Other than my son, CGRA is my family. We welcome everybody. You don’t have to be a cowboy or a cowgirl to be a part of CGRA. … You see all these guys in Wranglers, and cowboy hats, and on horses — you’re not going to find that at coordination. Seeing women in skirts and cowboy boots, you just go, ‘Oh my God, damn!”
Pauline Chavez, Ms. CGRA 2013, 2009, on why she’s a member of CGRA
“It’s a year-long event. We start planning the next rodeo, the Sunday evening the current one finishes.”
Cowboy Frank, gay rodeo historian
Did you know?
Traditionally “a man’s sport,” both men and women are allowed to participate in all events at any IGRA rodeo. That means women can bull ride and men can barrel race. At most professional rodeos, women can only participate in barrel racing. Men are also excluded from participating in that event.
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BY THE NUMBERS
90 – the average high temperature the weekend of rodeo
100 – the number of participants in last year’s rodeo
215 – the number of belt buckles recorded at GayRodeoHistory.com
6 – the number of seconds a rider needs to stay atop the bull in order to qualify for competition rankings
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LINKS:
Colorado Gay Rodeo Association website
International Gay Rodeo Association website
GayRodeoHistory.com
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