Florida's First Gay Rodeo A Success

Men and women rode bucking broncos and had some fun dressing goats in tighty-whitey underwear during the state's first-ever gay rodeo this weekend.
Participants competed in common -- and uncommon --rodeo events during the Sunshine Stampede at Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie.
''Goat dressing,'' considered one of the rodeo's ''camp events,'' is when a two-person team wrestles a pair of jockey-style underwear on a goat and races back to the finish line before the goat can wriggle them off.
''It's a fun event,'' said goat dressing competitor Rich Valdez of Colorado. "The crowd likes to see something unique.''
The Florida Gay Rodeo Association hosted the weekend-long fundraiser for charity. Competitors vied in traditional rough stock and speed categories including bull riding, bronco riding, calf roping, and barrel racing as well as in camp events such as steer decorating and wild drag racing.
Transgender participants were able to select whether they wanted to compete in male or female categories, said Mike Williams, chairman of communications and media for the Florida Gay Rodeo Association. Unlike most rodeos, females were allowed to compete in all categories at the Sunshine Stampede.
''They can ride bulls, ride broncs and wrestle with steers,'' said Williams, known in the rodeo circuit as ``Cowboy Mike.''
"There are some pretty tough women out there.''
One woman in chute dogging, a steer wrestling event, proved that statement true while clinging to a steer that repeatedly bucked her and then rolled over her. She was met by loud applause from the audience as she got up and walked out of the ring.
More than 3,000 spectators attended the rodeo on Saturday, and Sunday had about the same attendance, Williams said.
''I think it's great,'' said spectator Jim Allen, who drove up from South Beach for the event. ''The people here are very friendly. It's a community event,'' Allen said.
Outside, vendors peddled a variety of goods from cowboy hats and artwork to rainbow-colored candleholders. Bare-chested men strolled the grounds in cowboy hats while others sported overalls, Wrangler jeans and Brokeback Mountain T-shirts.
''With Brokeback Mountain this year, it has kind of just pushed it,'' Allen said of the effect the movie had on the rodeo. "It has generated interest.''
The Florida rodeo is one of 21 competitions to be held throughout the year through the International Gay Rodeo Association. IGRA has hosted gay rodeos for more than 20 years.
''The response has been phenomenal," Williams said of the local event. "We are totally in awe, and proud.''
from The Monterey Herald