The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 10, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 15, 1994 Page: 4 of 32
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The GAYLY T May 15, '94
OKC WELCOMES THE NINTH ANNUAL GREAT PLAINS REGIONAL RODEO
.j Memprial Day weekend in Oklahoma
City means thousands of visitors to the area,
with Ipts of Added attractions and excite-
ment. Thjsyear, pot only will Oklahoma City
he*t its ninth annual Great Plains Regional
Rodeo, but the annual International Bowlers
Tournament as well. Combining these two
spectacular sporting events with three nights
of equally spectacular parties means a three-
day holiday to remember.
Because Oklahoma City is so centrally
located within the United States, the rodeo
here is one of the largest contestant-based
rodeos on the International Gay Rodeo Asso-
ciation (IGRA) circuit. More than 200 contes-
tants compete in the 13 separate rodeo events,
providing spectators with two action-packed
days of western sport, beginning on Saturday
morning and ending late on Sunday after-
noon.
At the rodeo...
On Saturday and Sunday at the State
Fairgrounds, beginning around 10:00 a.m.,
spectators will see their favorite cowboys and
cowgirls compete in a variety of traditional
rodeo events such as speed, rough stock and
roping events, as well as the ever-popular
“camp" events.
In speed events, riders race their horses
around a pattern marked by barrels for the
Barrel Race. A similar event is the Flag Race,
where riders race against the clock while
picking up a flag from a barrel on one side of
the arena and depositing it, upright, into a
bucket of sand on the other side of the arena.
Another speed event is Pole Racing, where the
rider weaves the horse in and out through a
line of poles without knocking one
and coordination are of the utmost impor-
tance in these individual events which pit
rider against the clock, with the best time
taking the prize.
Spectators will also see contestants
match their strength and endurance against
that of the animals in rough stock events. In
=* «• ■
Chute Dogging, contestants use their strength
as well as technique as they attempt to “dog"
a steer from out of the chute, a variation of an
age-old method of bringing a steer to the
ground for branding. Other rough stock
events include the daredevil events of Steer
Riding, Bull Riding and Bareback Bronc
Riding. Each of these events is sure to bring
the audience to its feet in anticipation as the
rider attempts to hang on to the animal for a
six to eight second time period. Unlike straight
rodeos,
ingayro-
d e o s ,
women
also
compete
in rough
stock
events.
I n
roping
events,
whether
on horse-
back or
on the
ground,
contes-
t a n t s
work as
individu-
als or in
teams of two as they test their ability to rope
a moving animal.
The camp events are unique to the gay
rodeos and are designed to help even the
most timid cowpoke enter the arena as part of
the action. Camp events, while only mildly
dangerous for the contestants, are guaran-
teed to entertain the spectators. The three
camp events are Wild Drag Race, Steer Deco-
rating and Goat Dressing, with, believe it or
not, Goat Dressing being one of the highest
money-making events for the contestants.
In Goat Dressing, several teams of two
people each line up in the arena near the
judges. When the whistle sounds, both team
members run across the arena to a goat
which is safely tethered by a dog harness to
a stake. The team must put a pair of men’s
underwear on the goat and run back and
touch the timer. The fastest time wins.
In Steer Decorating, a team of two works
together. One person will tie a ribbon around
the steer’s tail while the other person takes
the rope off its horns. Again, the fastest time
wins.
team: one man, one woman, and one person
in drag (either male or female). The object of
the event is to move a roped steer from the
chute, down the arena, and over the finish
line with the person in drag atop the steer.
One of the things making this event so popu-
lar — and hilarious — Is the contestants'
costumes. Years ago, when the event first
began, a trunk of old women’s clothes, com-
plete with wigs, was brought out to the arena.
The “drag" person pulled a dress out of the
trunk and put it on. Today, this event has
become an all-out fashion show with contes-
tants resplendent in creations of their own
making. From fluorescent pink tutus with
matching pink ropers to retired evening gowns,
from simple cotton smocks to risque, Ma-
donna-like outfits, the costumes run the
gamut of outrageous.
While animal protection organizations
such as People for the Equitable Treatment of
Animals (PETA) might deem rodeo events
unnecessarily rough for the animals, contes-
tants would gladly exchange their weight, an
average of 150 to 250 pounds, for that of the
animals, an avciagc of GOO to 800 pounds
(even the calves weigh in at 300 to 400
pounds). More importantly, in all gay rodeo
events every conceivable precaution is taken
to ensure the safety of the animals, with most
gay rodeo events being modified over those
performed in mainstream rodeos. A prime
example of modifying gay rodeo events for
additional animal safety is in calf-roping from
horseback, called Break-Away Roping. In
this event, contestants do not throw the calf
to the ground, tying its legs after roping it
from horseback. In gay rodeo, the calf is
roped with a special "breakaway" rope which
breaks loose from the horse once the animal
is caught. Another example is Goat Dressing.
Although it is a camp event, the animal’s
safety is foremost. Instead of tying the goat to
the stake with a rope, possibly causing it to
strangle, a large dog harness is used. A small
number of gay rodeos have been picketed by
PETA, although PETA has never filed any
complaints regarding any unsafe gay rodeo
events.
The gay rodeos are not only a western-
related sport, based on skills learned by
cowhands on the range, they are a vehicle for
fund-raising, in Oklahoma, all of the net
proceeds from each rodeo are donated to
AIDS-related service organizations through-
out the state. Last year, the rodeo associa-
tion donated $8,000 to the Oklahoma City
Area HIV/A1DS Coalition, where the money
will be dispersed as small grants to local
9th Annual Great Plains Regional Rodeo
u
Oklahoma City, OK State Fairgrounds
1-44 at NW10th Street
Memorial Day Weekend May 27,28 & 29
Hotel Information
Unri UaIoI
aavsoi m ivkv■
Century Crown Plaza
One North Broadway
Oklahoma City, OK
Rooms
Single to Quad: $60.00
(includes hotel parking)
Ph: 1-800-285-2780
State: (405)235-2780
Fax: (405) 272-0369
Travel Information
Travel Inc.
Corporate Office
7117 E. Reno
Midwest City, OK 73110
Airlines/Hotel/Rental Cars
Ph: 1-800-880-1053
State: (405)737-5353
Fax: (405) 737-5666
Vendor Information Rodeo Information
(405) 848-2766 (405) 943-0843 Evenings
Weekend Ticket Prices
Complete Rodeo Package In Advance
r\~ .. ii... >~%n\
yvy may t* r)
frOA AA
Single Event
At Door
Adv. Tickets
Prices
Friday Night Party
$ 5.00
$ 5.00
Saturday Rodeo
SI 0.00
$12.00
Saturday Night Party
$ 8.00
$10.00
Sunday Rodeo
$10.00
$12.00
Sunday Night Party
$ Free
$ Free
TOTAL
$33.00
$39.00
Send Check or Money Order payable to:
OGRA, PO Box 12485, OKC, OK 73157.
SPECIAL ADDED ATTRACTION!
Saturday Night "Boots and Bails" Party
at the Completely Remodeled Century Crown Plaza in Downtown Oklahoma City
3 Different Entertainment Areas in One of OKC’s Most Beautiful Hotels!
•Latest Dance Music With Live DeeJayCountry/Western Dancing to "Little Bit of Texas" Band*
•Live Entertainers & Dance Groups*
OKC's Biggest Gay & Lesbian Party Ever! Hundreds of People!
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Shaffer, Ron & Hawkins, Don. The Gayly Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 12, No. 10, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 15, 1994, newspaper, May 15, 1994; Oklahoma City, Okla.. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc825288/m1/4/: accessed April 24, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.