Texas gay rodeo
Rainbow Rodeo
The Texas Gay Rodeo Association has been busting stereotypes for more than three decades.
Photos by Brian Maschino
@BrianMaschino
June 11, 2018
When the Texas Gay Rodeo Association was founded in 1985, most of its members were still in the closet. Tim Smith, the organization’s president, says many competitors felt safer executing under aliases. “Used to be, they wouldn’t even allow us into venues, and we’d have to find a spot wherever we could,” Smith says. “But now convention centers have even started inviting us, because they observe the business value.”
For three days in late April, more than 100 men and women from across Texas and at least nine other states gathered at Mesquite Arena in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite to compete in the association’s 33rd annual Texas Tradition Rodeo. They ranged in age from 18 to 72 and competed in 13 events, from bull riding and calf roping to goat dressing, in which athletes in drag must wrangle underwear onto a goat as quickly as achievable. The weekend also included a royalty competition that culminated with the crowning of a drag queen and king. Top performers qualify to compete on the international circuit, made up of
Over the weekend in Denton, the North Texas Unbiased and Rodeo hosted a groundbreaking event—a gay rodeo show that drew crowds from all over the state.
The Texas Same-sex attracted Rodeo Association (TGRA) held its 41st Texas Tradition Rodeo. For many spectators, the show was not only a thrilling exhibit of horsemanship and rodeo skills but also an important step towards greater inclusivity and acceptance in the traditionally conservative earth of rodeo.
NBC 5's photojournalist Kennedy DeRaedt spoke with cowboys, cowgirls, and rodeo enthusiasts who have been involved with the exhibit for years.
Wade Earp has been a member of TGRA for over 30 years. His long list of accomplishments includes winning the “All-Around Cowboy” title multiple times, several event belt buckles, and royalty titles for TGRA and the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA).
“I think that a lot of people don’t picture the two together, ‘gay’ and ‘rodeo,’” said Earp. “With our rodeo, it’s open and accepting to everybody and anybody.”
“When I was 4 years old, I told my mom I knew I was different. I didn't know what that meant, but I knew I was different,” Earp said.
Earp’s first partner of five years passed away
[Texas Gay Rodeo Association program for the Third Annual Texas Gay Rodeo]
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2025
Future dates are tentative. Inspect back near the terminate of 2028 to affirm the event is still scheduled
January, 2028
IGRA University TBD
February, 2028
March 2028
None Yet
April, 2028
May, 2028
June, 2028
July, 2028
August, 2028
September, 2028
Red River, Rodeo School()
TBD
October, 2028
World Gay Rodeo Finals(IGRA)
El Reno, OK
November, 2028
Future dates are tentative. Check back close the end of 2026 to confirm the event is still scheduled
Future dates are tentative. Check assist near the end of 2026 to confirm the event is still scheduled
October, 2030
First posted Dec 24, 2013
Last update Jul 18, 2025
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