International Gay Rodeo Association
The International Gay Rodeo Association, founded in 1985, is the sanctioning body for gay rodeos held throughout the United States and Canada. They are the largest group coordinating rodeo events specifically welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender as well as heterosexual participants and spectators. IGRA is composed of many regional gay rodeo associations, and sanctions a season of rodeo events which culminates in an annual World Gay Rodeo Finals. IGRA events are intended to allow all competitors, regardless of sexual and gender identity, to compete in rodeo sports without discrimination. The organization helps spread appreciation for Western culture and the sport of rodeo, while serving as a fundraising vehicle benefiting many charitable organizations.
Competitors compete for prize money and the title of All Around Cowboy and Cowgirl at each rodeo. The winners of each event receive trophy buckles designed by the hosting association. At season's end the contestants with the highest points in each event receive invitations to the World Gay Rodeo Finals presented by IGRA. The event was renamed in 2009 from the previous "International Gay Rodeo Finals" moniker it held from its onset in Hayward, California.
The original intent of these rodeos was fundraising, and while highly competitive and structured rodeos still serve the primary purpose of being fundraisers. The money raised at the rodeo is donated to the designated charities of each association. In total IGRA and all the associated associations have donated to furthering the individual causes of all charities that are benefactors of rodeo funds.
In 2010, the IGRA archives dating from 1975 were deposited in the library collection of the Autry National Center in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, which also houses the Museum of the American West.
History
Source:The first gay rodeo was held as a charity fundraising event at the Washoe County Fairgrounds in Reno, Nevada on October 2, 1976. The organizer, Phil Ragsdale, a member of the Imperial Court System, was the Court Emperor of Reno. In time, he came to be regarded as the "Father of Gay Rodeo."
Ragsdale came up with the idea of a holding a rodeo to raise money for the local Thanksgiving Day food drive for senior citizens. Over 125 people took part in the first rodeo, and the winners were crowned King of the Cowboys, Queen of the Cowgirls, and Miss Dusty Spurs. The National Reno Gay Rodeo title was officially created in 1977, when he founded the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association. Following the Imperial courts' lead Ragsdale added the "Mr., Ms., and Miss National Reno Gay Rodeo" titles to aid in the fund raising that was to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. These titles still exist today but have been recognized as Mr., Ms., Miss, MsTer, and Mx. International Gay Rodeo Association since the IGRA replaced the old National Reno format.
By 1984, the ninth and final National Reno Gay Rodeo brought out over 10,000 people to the rodeo grounds. The demise of the National Reno Rodeos is credited by the IRS as a dispute between the Gay Rodeo, the Washoe County Fairgrounds and the Sands Hotel. The rodeo's books were alleged to have been seized by the IRS.
History has recorded 14 gay rodeos prior to the formation of the International Gay Rodeo Association. The IGRA became truly international in 1993 when the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association from Canada joined.
In September 1985 with 10 years of rodeo history behind it, gay rodeo associations from Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona gathered in Denver, Colorado to form an organization to standardize the rules of Gay Rodeo. As a result, the International Gay Rodeo Association was created with Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona as founding member associations. These four associations seated the Oklahoma Gay Rodeo Association at its first convention held in the same year. The newly formed association elected Wayne Jakino from Colorado as its first President.
In 1987, IGRA's first International Finals Rodeo was held in Hayward, California. The name was changed to the World Gay Rodeo Finals in 2009.
The 2014 documentary film Queens & Cowboys follows the story of cowboy Wade Earp and others who compete in the IGRA. Earp discusses how he does not compete in rodeos outside IGRA because, "There's still a lot of homophobia. As progressive as we think the world's gotten, there's so much we have to conquer." On November 9, 2014, CNN aired an episode of This Is Life with Lisa Ling that covered the Zia Regional Rodeo in Santa Fe, New Mexico, including profiles of several cowboys and cowgirls that are active on the IGRA circuit.
Conventions, Presidents, and Royalty
A list of presidents, royalty, conventions, and finals since IGRA was founded in 1985:| Year / Rodeos Held | Convention | President | Mr. IGRA | Ms. IGRA | Miss IGRA | MsTer IGRA | Mx IGRA | Finals Rodeo | Grand Marshals |
| 1985 | Denver | Wayne Jakino, CGRA | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1986 / 5 | Denver | Wayne Jakino | Gary Oliver, CGRA | Jeannie Nelson, CGRA | Fritz Capone, OGRA | -- | -- | -- | |
| 1987 / 6 | Albuquerque | Les Krambeal, OGRA | Tony Lazano, TGRA | Dee Godwin, OGRA | Misty Michaels, KGRA | -- | Hayward, CA | Shanti Project | |
| 1988 / 7 | Fort Worth | Les Krambeal | -- | -- | -- | -- | Reno, NV | Lynn Copeland & Wayne Jakino | |
| 1989 / 7 | Albuquerque | Gerald Ford, TGRA | Jerry Hubbard, GSGRA | Connie Clovis, KGRA | Magnolia Spirits, CGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Ed Buck | |
| 1990 / 7 | Wichita | Linn Copeland, KGRA | Larry Brumley, OGRA | Laura O'Neill, CGRA | Moosala, AGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Katie Southwick | |
| 1991 / 10 | Albuquerque | Bob Pimentel, NMGRA | Scott Burleson, MGRA | Linda Sullo, GSGRA | Hollie Woods, AGRA | -- | Wichita, KS | The Names Project | |
| 1992 / 13 | St. Paul | Bob Pimentel | Jim Carter, OGRA | RC Cuellar, CGRA | Roxie Heart, KGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Wayne Jakino | |
| 1993 / 16 | Billings | Roger Bergmann, GSGRA | Ron Neff, CGRA | Dee Zuspann, KGRA | Chili Pepper, TGRA | -- | Fort Worth, TX | Gerald Ford | |
| 1994 / 21 | Little Rock | Roger Bergmann | J.R. Duran, NMGRA | Joanne Bawiec, ASGRA | Miss Tessie, SEGRA | -- | Denver, CO | Greg Olson | |
| 1995 / 22 | Chicago | Roger Bergmann | Mark Burdine, NMGRA | Desiree Gronwald, CGRA | DeShannon, TGRA | -- | Denver, CO | Roger Bergmann | |
| 1996 / 20 | Omaha | Tom Vance, NSGRA | Michael Vrooman, CGRA | Shugar Vigil, NMGRA | Naomi La'Rell, CGRA | -- | Albuquerque, NM | Connie Lee | |
| 1997 / 18 | Salt Lake City | Tom Vance | Tommy Channel, CGRA | Sherry Reedy, AGRA | Tori Hart, CGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Tom Vance | |
| 1998 / 20 | Baltimore | Linda Frazier, KGRA | Kurt McGregor, AGRA | Tamara Marks, MIGRA | Beverly DeMarco, NMGRA | -- | Phoenix, AZ | Glenn Gore | |
| 1999 / 19 | Long Beach | Linda Frazier | Douglas Graff, GSGRA | Laura Scott, NGRA | DeShannon, NGRA | -- | Little Rock, AR | Ron Trusley | |
| 2000 / 17 | Las Vegas | Craig Allen Rouse, GSGRA | Daniel Lusk, ASGRA | Lonni LaBel, ASGRA | Harley Quinn, ILGRA | -- | Albuquerque, NM | Thom Sloan | |
| 2001 / 17 | Long Beach | Craig Allen Rouse | Michael Cunningham, ILGRA | Erin Leavey, SEGRA | Victoria London, AGRA | -- | Palm Springs, CA | Jose Sarria, aka "The Widow Norton" | |
| 2002 / 19 | Cleveland | Craig Allen Rouse | Mark Larson, NSGRA | Lize MacDonald, NGRA | Bianca St John, CGRA | -- | Wichita, KS | Fritz Capone | |
| 2003 / 19 | Phoenix | Craig Allen Rouse | David Westman, CGRA | Mary Munger, CGRA | Jada McRae, ILGRA | -- | Tulsa, OK | Patrick Terry | |
| 2004 / 20 | Denver | Craig Allen Rouse | Eric Hanson, GSGRA | Julie Brown, DSRA | Mandy Barbarell, MGRA | -- | Omaha, NE | Tamara Marks | |
| 2005 / 20 | Calgary | Brian Helander, AGRA | Ken Pool, CGRA | Gaylia Young, AGRA | Pussy LeHoot, AGRA | -- | Dallas, TX | James Ramey | |
| 2006 / 20 | Nashville | Brian Helander | Steve Wollert, GSGRA | Kimberley Kay, CGRA | Jymmye Jaymes, ASGRA | -- | Reno, NV | Keith Ann, Mitch Gill | |
| 2007 / 18 | Kansas City | Brian Helander | Clyde Mitter, CGRA | -- | Destiny B. Childs, ASGRA | -- | Denver, CO | Wayne Jakino | |
| 2008 / 20 | New Orleans | Brian Helander | Gary Rushton, AGRA | -- | Janet Jenkins, CGRA | -- | Denver, CO | John King | |
| 2009 / 16 | Toronto | Brian Helander | Wade Earp, TGRA | Sharon Starks, AGRA | Aspen Vail, CGRA | Rocket Coxx, CGRA | Albuquerque, NM | Lorrie Murphy | |
| 2010 / 17 | Reno | Brian Helander | Roger Courtemanche, CGRA | -- | Ionna Doublewide, AGRA | -- | Laughlin, NV | Lorry King | |
| 2011 / 15 | San Diego | Doug Graff, NGRA | Michael Butts, AGRA | Sharon Starks, AGRA | Kimberli Foxx, NGRA | -- | Fort Worth, TX | David Hill | |
| 2012 / 15 | Las Vegas | Doug Graff, NGRA | Rodd Smunk, TGRA | Kami Boles, MGRA | Victoria Weston, TGRA | Shane Lee, MGRA | Fort Worth, TX | Frank Harrell/Ty Teigen | |
| 2013 / 14 | San Diego | Ed Barry, ILGRA | Frank Thompson, OGRA | -- | Sabel D'Zyre, NGRA | -- | Fort Worth, TX | Mitch Gill | |
| 2014 / 13 | Denver | Ed Barry, ILGRA | Jeff Germany, OGRA | Pauline Chavez, CGRA | Katrina Davenport, NGRA | Rocki Heffa, TGRA | Fort Worth, TX | Janie Van Santen | |
| 2015 / 11 | St Petersburg | Bruce Gros | Andrew Johnson, CGRA | -- | Luxx Bentley, OGRA | Preston, NGRA | Las Vegas, NV | Brian Rogers | |
| 2016 / 10 | Austin | Bruce Gros | Thomas McCarthy, FGRA | Mary Honeycutt, TGRA | Madison Devereux, TGRA | Macc Country, OGRA | Las Vegas, NV | Ed Berry | |
| 2017 / 11 | Little Rock | Bruce Gros | Mark Christensen, OGRA | Allyson Paige Henery, GPRA | Kelly ONeil, TGRA | - - | Albuquerque, NM | TBD | |
| 2018 / 11 | Salt Lake City | Candy Pratt | Tre' Brewbaker, NMGRA 1st RU- Chris Tobin CGRA 2nd RU- Tony Schwartz NSGRA | Tamra Kelly, TGRA, 1st RU Christi Mikels | Mipsy Mikels, AGRA 1st RU- Marie Antoinette DuBarryNMGRA 2nd RU- Phat Patty NGRA | RJ Mikels, AGRA | Scottsdale, AZ | Anthony Valdez | |
| 2019 / 10 | Denver | Candy Pratt | Travis James, AGRA | Alina Whorez, TGRA 1st RU - Jen Vrana, KSGRA 2nd RU - Delyria Paul Twilight Starr, NMGRA | Priscilla Toya Bouvier, NMGRA 1st RU - Duchess Zwiers, KSGRA 2nd RU - Ionna Doublwide, AGRA | Jorge Sanchez, NSGRA | Scottsdale, AZ | John Beck | |
| 2020 / 1 | Cancelled | Candy Pratt | Chicken Nugget, TGRA 1st RU - Mahlon Lovell, AGRA 2nd RU - Russel Waisanen, NSGRA | Nicole Reighlie Whorez, MGRA | Nikki Starr, AGRA 1st RU - Bootsy CarMichael, NGRA 2nd RU - Alexis Cole, TGRA | Kade Jackwell, MGRA 1st RU - Jesse N Cider Morecoxx, TGRA | |||
| 2021 / 3 | Candy Pratt | Chicken Nugget, TGRA 1st RU - Mahlon Lovell, AGRA 2nd RU - Russel Waisanen, NSGRA | Nicole Reighlie Whorez, MGRA | Nikki Starr, AGRA 1st RU - Bootsy CarMichael, NGRA 2nd RU - Alexis Cole, TGRA | Kade Jackwell, MGRA 1st RU - Jesse N Cider Morecoxx, TGRA | ||||
| 2022 / 12 | Denton | Candy Pratt | Ryan Knop, AGRA 1st RU - Cameron Ticey, NMGRA 2nd RU - Danny Love Perez, CGRA | Jade Fauver, NSGRA 1st RU - Shannon McKenzie, AGRA | Charis Loren, CGRA 1st RU - Celeste Powers, AGRA | Dakota Aire Paris, UGRA | El Reno, OK | ||
| 2023 / 11 | Reno | Brian Helander | Weston Crow-Tucker, CGRA | Selena Whorez, TGRA 1st RU - Madame Fellatia Monroe, AGRA 2nd RU - Tessie Taylor, GPRA | Rocket Coxx, CGRA | El Reno, OK | |||
| 2024 / | Grand Rapids | Brian Helander | Chris Aguilar, NGRA 1st RU - Andy Siekkinen, GSGRA 2nd RU - Sebastian Black Starr, AGRA | Christina Miner, CGRA 1st RU - Janelle King-Neptune, GPRA 2nd RU - Luna Starr Black, AGRA | Aurora Gayheart, NMGRA 1st RU - Southyrn St. John Comfort, GPRA 2nd RU - Miranda Rites Ticey, AGRA | Ryder Gently, AGRA | El Reno, OK | ||
| 2025 / | Denver | Brian Helander | Brandon Bayes, NMGRA 1st RU - Jay R Gayheart, ASGRA 2nd RU - Kirk Wylie, TGRA | Kami Boles, GPRA 1st RU - Jenn Vrana, ASGRA 2nd RU - Kim Mann, TGRA | Tequila Mockingbird, NGRA 1st RU - Seliah DeLeon, NMGRA 2nd RU - Celebrity Starr, AGRA | Kaven O'Neil, TGRA | Tink, AGRA 1st RU - Pup Mystic, UGRA | Reno, NV | TBD |
| 2026 / | TBD | Brian Helander | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | El Reno, OK | TBD |
- Note: In 1988, "A contract with a private ranch sixty miles east of Reno was made void when the local homophobic District Attorney filed an injunction two days before the rodeo in order to stop the event. Two days in court as well as a trip to the Nevada Supreme Court failed to overturn the injunction," according to the IGRA website. As a result, no finals were held that year.