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Hundreds turn out to watch, take part in L.A. Rodeo
Newbury Park center hosts gay fundraiser
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Photos by Jen Edney / Special to The Star Shawn Lowrie rides a steer across a line as part of the wild drag race Sunday at the L.A. Rodeo in Newbury Park.
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David Goyes, Miss Bay Area Rodeo 2008, top, keeps out of the sun. At left, Tim Robinson, left, and rodeo participant Rudy Olvera walk through the stands at the L.A. Rodeo.
For years, kids have schlepped home fuzzy cats and wide-eyed dogs and pleaded with their parents to keep them as pets.
David Smith, 46, of Norco was no different. Except, at the age of 7, he brought home a horse — a palomino named Whiskey, to be exact.
And he's been riding ever since.
Smith was just one of the riders competing in the 23rd annual L.A. Rodeo, held for the first time this year at Rancho Potrero Equestrian Center in Newbury Park. The event, which was hosted by the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association, attracted 800 to 900 spectators over the weekend.
Smith has participated in the association's rodeos for 18 years, competing in pool bending, chute dogging and a number of roping events. His goal, he said, is to earn the title "All Around Cowboy" in a rodeo circuit he likens to family.
"There is so much love," he said.
Along with providing city slickers a taste of equestrian competition, L.A. Rodeo also serves as a fundraising event, with proceeds this year benefiting the Life Group LA, a 3-year-old organization that provides free information and emotional support through medical forums, support groups and seminars to those with HIV.
"We're doing this thing as a labor of love," said chapter President Chris Hulse, 33, of Van Nuys. "I was looking for a group that had a purpose and, being gay, I wanted to find an organization that is doing good for the community."
For Sam and Bronson Page of South Pasadena, their first visit to the L.A. Rodeo in 2005 sparked the competition bug. This weekend, days after the couple were married for the second time Tuesday, they competed together for the first time in several events. The Pages married in 2007 in a formal wedding at a Unitarian Universalist church.
The two competed together in the goat dressing competition. The event is one of several that are specific to gay rodeos. A two-person team races 50 feet toward a goat and upon reaching it, one team member holds it while the other puts a pair of skivvies on the goat before racing back to the starting point.
"It's good for America to see that there are gay cowboys and cowgirls," said Sam Page, who took Bronson's last name. "It's an iconic sport."
Bronson Page said the L.A. Rodeo is inclusive. Women can compete in events traditionally reserved for male riders, and straight competitors can participate.
"It makes me feel really alive," Bronson Page said. "It's a really great experience. It's a blast."
Posted by bill on June 23, 2008 at 9:07 a.m.
(This thread was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by jill on June 23, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rodeos are incredibly cruel using electric shock, prods and clotheslining baby calfs (to name a few) and desensitize children to the animals' needless suffering in the name of "entertainment." To learn more about rodeo cruelty, visit sharkonline.org.
Posted by sslocal on June 23, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Rodeo's are part of our heritage. Don't fall for the bleeding hearts view that animals are treated badly. Most of these rodeo animals are treated better than your household pet.
Posted by jill on June 23, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There's lots of things that are awful, not to mention illegal, that are a part of our heritage. It doesn't mean they are right. Animals are frightened, maimed and killed in rodeo arenas regularly. I witnessed a steer become paralyzed from a cruel, unnecessary roping event where its neck was broken from being jerked back. www.sharkonline.org has undercover videos that show the abuse taking place. And it's not hard to capture. You could go to any rodeo and find stupid cowboys hurting these innocent animals, and for what? Money and entertainment. What is wrong with people? Maybe you don't care what happens to another living creature, but I do. Bleeding heart? No. Compassionate? Yes.
Posted by cowboi on June 23, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Before making such negative and incredibly broad sweeping generalizations you should really do your homework....
The International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) imposes specified rules, which are strictly enforced, and penalizes any contestant found to be guilty of inhumane treatment of animals, the least of which is their immediate disqualification from further competition.
Gay rodeos operate under greatly modified rules of straight rodeo while still preserving this American tradition. Although consisting of traditional rodeo events such as bull riding and bronc riding, gay rodeo activities purposefully have been tailored to provide the animal and human participants with the safest environment possible, while still demonstrating the skill of the contestant.
IGRA bylaws are public record and include numerous rules which strongly protect animals from abuse, including passages that prohibit the use of lame, sore, sick, or undersized stock; mandate the availability of veterinary care; prohibit the beating or cruel prodding of animals; direct the release of any animal from competition that appears in danger of injuring itself; and forbid the use of metal or fiberglass rigging, any equipment judged to be too tight, or the concealed use of caustic ointments or burrs.
--From IGRA Animal Welfare Statement
http://igra.com/welfare.htm
No it isn't some kind of " Brokeback Newbury Park " rodeo, and it sure as hell isn't a straight rodeo. It's better. It's bull riding, barrel racing, winning or losing, comraderie and competition, wranglers and beers, 2 steppin', lovin', laughing and moments you'll never forget.
Posted by cowb0y on June 23, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
@rcamacho: Please look up the term "two spirit" to learn more about the historical place of alternative sexuality in Native American culture.
From the wikipedia:
"Two-Spirit...people are American Indians who fulfill one of many mixed gender roles found traditionally among many American Indian and Canadian First Nations indigenous groups."
I find it odd (though not surprising) that a member of an ethnic/cultural group which has received such brutal treatment at the hands of others should be so ready to sow hatred.
Posted by Lovesick_Billy on June 24, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you're here complaining about cruelty to animals, you clearly didn't witness the care and respect with which these animals were treated throughout the rodeo.
If you're here breathing hate and ignorance, you must feel awfully personally threatened to take the time to show your homophobia. Must really strike a chord with you. Hmm.
Posted by RowdyCowgirl4Fun on June 25, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well... I must say... as a stratight cowgirl having heard of this event my curiousity could not keep me away.... I mozied on over the the arena on Sunday and was very pleased to say that if you didn't know it was a "Gay" rodeo... you may not have caught wind of it.... unless you saw the occasional guys and gals holding hands with one another or showing a little bit of what I thought was appropriate PDA. There were children there, moms, dads, and even grandparents.
What I did notice that stood out above the "straight" rodeos, not exactly billed as such was that comaradarie mentioned above. People were friendly! People said hello to me, smiled, and were laughing and having a good time, no attitude! I noticed that in the arena people helped one another, even if they were competeing against each other.
I also very much enjoyed the announcers funny comments and the riderless horse ceremony I thought was a beautiful tribute to people they knew who had passed away. I'd never seen this done at other rodeos. The camp events were funny to watch and I liked that even if you didn't have a horse or if you didnt ride a bronc or bull that someone could still be involved.
They DO NOT use cattle prods otherwise known as hot shots... they used these cute little rainbow colored pieces of plastic pvc pipe that although may have taken more time to get the animals where they wanted them, was way nicer...and the entire event is produced by volunteers all here to preserve the sport of rodeo and make money for an AIDS charity.
Gotta tell ya, these guys and gals were definitly not softies, they are tough competitors with amazing animals all better looking and tended than some of the horses at the barn where I keep mine.
I commend them for their pride and for creating a safe place for them to be who they are, gay cowboys and cowgirls, and do what they love.
It was easy to feel the love also mentioned above and I didn't know a soul... however did get a chance to chat with some people in the stands who willingly filled a newcomer in on some of the history that is rich with perseverance, fundraising and dedication.
Ten thumbs up!
Posted by jill on June 26, 2008 at 7:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cowboi writes, "The International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) imposes specified rules, which are strictly enforced, and penalizes any contestant found to be guilty of inhumane treatment of animals, the least of which is their immediate disqualification from further competition."
Please. There is no way to enforce these rules at all the rodeos going on. http://www.sharkonline.org/ (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness) constantly exposes these "rules" being broken. You can see it in just about every rodeo. So don't even try to pretend that it doesn't happen. Anybody who attends a rodeo can see it first hand. Legalized animal abuse. No different than Michael Vick or anyone else who hurts animals for fun and profit.
Posted by cowb0y on June 26, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jill, I understand and commend your concern for the well-being of the animals involved in all rodeos. While there may be many instances of documented abuse of animals at "mainstream" rodeos, where large amounts of money and male pride are at stake, I don't believe that you will find any comparable issues with the gay rodeo circuit. That would be somewhat like comparing an adult softball league with Major League Baseball (in it's less innocent aspects).
The IGRA is highly aware of the sensitive issue of animal welfare, and goes to great lengths to ensure that rules are followed at it's sanctioned events. But regardless of that, the spectators and contestants at gay rodeo events would not stand for that kind of treatment, even if it were allowed. Gay rodeo folks are a true community, and for us, this is a community event, celebrating who we are as individuals, our participation in our (Western) culture, and a way to support our larger communities through charitable fund-raising and awareness.
So, please don't pass judgment on our events unless you've witnessed some yourself. To learn more, stop on over at igra.com.
Posted by jill on June 27, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cowb0y, I really hope that is so, but just by looking at the photo in this article, the calf is not having any fun. Can you even begin to imagine the fear they are feeling? I can't imagine a roping event where calves are not clotheslined, that no animal is injured. People just think it's fine to traumatize and hurt animals, treat them like objects instead of living things, that they are here for our every whim. I always thought of gay men as being more caring and thoughtful than that.
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