We've just seen our first copy of this new magazine, including your column. Good luck on your launch.
We are C/W dance instructors. We have been teaching at the Rawhide in North Hollywood for almost three years now, and at other Southern California bars (Floyds, Oil Can's and at bars in San Diego and Palm Springs) for almost twelve years. We specialize in partner dances, in particular advanced combinations. For five years we directed a dance troupe called The Outlaws and have appeared at most of the rodeos that then existed. We have been dancing together for more than a decade ann have witnessed a gratifying growth of Country Western.
Line Dance vs. Couple Dance: Obviously our taste leans towards the partner dances, but we recognize the need for line dances for all the reasons you cite - the clientele differs per dance type. In some local bars, the management has rules about how many line dances can be played in a row - usually three. As partner dancers, we resent it when good songs become the province of line dancers, but that's the breaks (the achy breaks?). We take that time to cool off, get a drink, play pinball, flirt, etc. Once in a while, if the floor is not crowded, we stake out a small spot on the edge of the floor and do some swing, but we strive for courtesy. I don't think there is a lot of common ground for the dance types. We'll just have to learn to get along. Not exactly a solution.
Stylistic Differences: I wish you'd explained what you meant by the different styles. Regional dance dialects are quite common, of course, and line dances differ from one region to another, from one bar to another, and between straight and gay bars, as do partner styles. Shadow dance is popular in gay bars, but unheard of in straight ones. These are some of the differences we've observed. In California, we start (on the lead foot, of course) on the first slow step, and in Texas they start on the first quick. After one basic count it doesn't matter, of course, but it can cause some confusion when trying to get started. In California, we hold each other in an open position, whereas elsewhere the partners are held quite close with the leader's arm over the follower's shoulder. An outgrowth of this difference is that we do moves that utilize open positions, with more turns, sweetheart position, freespins, etc. In terms of right and wrong as long as the rhythm never varies, then we are happy.
However, there is an ancillany problem - DJ's who don't dance themselves misunderstand tbe dynamics of dancers. We appreciate variety in tempe, and we want a lot of different dances to be played. In an effort to "build" he excitement, they play faster and faster songs. Please, DJ's don't play only one speed of two-step (for instance), but play fast and slow ones. We like them all! Judging: As long as the basic rhythmic rules of the dance are observed, the judges are free to examine whatever elements of style they observe. As long as they strive to be objective, then there should be no problem.
It boils down to: as long as you're having fun, then you're doing something right.
Sincerely,
Jim Kelly
Jim Layne
Los Angeles, CA
My partner and I won first place in the Bay Area Regional Rodeo in May, and I'm writing to thank you for donating the buckles in the novice division. Your sponsorship was very generous. They are BEAUTIFUL!!!
We wear the buckles often, and look forward to next year's competition.
Thanks again to Parkwood Productions and all of you for your role in this year's rodeo.
Sincerely,
Tim Jones
Reno, NV
It is nice to know not everyone in gay publications is limited to the bar scene as its only source of fun and inspiration. Finally, a magazine with real people leading real lives. Your magazine is informative and wonderfully illustrated. Praise for an admiral reflection of gay America and its roots. Over all I enjoyed, but please let's see some more women.
Kelley Wallup
Riverside, CA
Greetings fom the editor of one RoundUp to another. Your premiere issue of RoundUp: The Gay Western and Rodeo Magazine was stupendous! I have already sent a check for a subscription
.As editor of The RoundUp (newsletter of the Cincinnati Stompers dance group), I reviewed your magazine in our July edition encouraging others to subscribe. Congratulations and great success!
Douglas A. "Doogie" Stewart
Cincinnati, OH
The cover story/feature cowboys from RoundUp issue Number One are David Smith and Leonard Ray, who live near the Burbank Equestrian Center in Los Angeles, where they board horses.
The two met in August, 1992, at the Russian River, where Leonard used to live. David, originally from Bishop, CA, was on vacation at the time and "sparks flew" when they first saw each other.
Leonard and David both compete in the rodeos and between the two, the events include chute dogging poles, barrels and flags; wild drag; steer decorating; goat dressing; and steer riding. They won a buckle in January in Phoenix for goat dressing.
They both own horses and ride in the Hollywood Hills, plus enjoy snow skiing and dancing at clubs like Oil Can Harry's in Studio City and The Rawhide in North Hollywood.
David is a former West Hollywood cheerleader and threw his skirt away for boots and chaps. (Darn it, he could have kept the skirt as well!) Leonard is the 1992 Mr. Russian River Wrangler.
David and Leonard own A Man's Touch, with their business specializing in house cleaning, carpet shampooing and massage.
by Wayne Jakino
The Grandfather of Gay Rodeo shares his memories of the early days of our modern Gay Country Western lifestyle.
Howdy rodeo fans - the 1993 rodeo circuit has really been cooking along since the last issue of RoundUp. In this issue you will find results for the rodeos in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Tucson and Denver. Hope you had a chance to catch one of them and the fun and excitement that goes along with one of these western gatherings.
This family of friends just keeps growing - since the last issue, newbies on the circuit include the new Illinois Gay Rodeo Association (Chicago) and the Heartland Gay Rodeo Association (Nebraska) plus the state of South Dakota sending representation to the Denver rodeo. Welcome everyone!!
Now a little more of the story! We are way back in 1981, and as you remember, I foolishly replied to the Drag Queen who had just won the Miss Reno National Gay Rodeo title that Colorado would be back to Reno in 1982 and she would know it!!
Well now, we're back home in Denver, relishing the good time we had in Reno and making plans to create the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association. At first it was just for rodeo, but we knew it was all the rest that went on that made it the best social setting we had seen. We spent at least two months arguing about having the word gay in our name. Everyone wanted it, but then they would explain that they could use the initials - C.G.R.A.! The big Question - "What does that stand for"? -Answer - "Uhh - The Colorado Goat Ropers Association."
We elected our first official board September 13, 1981 (with 13 officers) and in the course of that year it took 21 people to keep the board in tack. And finally in October, with 70 some members voting, we officially adopted the name of Colorado Gay Rodeo Association.
Now the work began - out of the woodwork the enthused began to discover our own talents. The Mile High Squares and Denver Country Cloggers were formed as part of C.G.R.A., and the dance floor at Charlies was filled with lessons and practice seven nights a week.
I had a goal - return to Reno in 1982 (look at us now Miss Texas/Miss Reno National Gay Rodeo 1981 - we're back!!) and by Christmas 1981, I had over 100 enthused people on the band wagon.
Alright - we are going to a rodeo and have square dancers and cloggers. Now we need a rodeo team. Ron Jesser's friend Carol Molitor gave him a big white Arabian and I knew that I had to have a horse if this was going to work. I hadn't ridden since I was 16 and at 40-plus you know that I must have a lot of sawdust upstairs to start down this road. Ron and I tracked down a horse in the Greely area and went to have a look. The horse "Cutter Jones" was big and trained. He even let me ride him and didn't dump me. Well, now I owned a horse!
I found a place to board Cutter and moved him to Denver. I called my Dad, "Hey, I bought a horse." "You're kidding. You're the last one of the kids I thought would do that. Say, I have my old saddle and I guess you could use it. I'll send it up!" Well, now we have two horses and the equipment and it is hard to admit how intimidated I was when I had to ride Cutter, the first time with no help around. I swear that trotting felt like 50 miles an hour and there wasn't any way I was going to let him gallop.
Our next problem was the horses were scattered around the city and we needed to haul the horses to one location or another. So now I needed a trailer! Damn this project was getting expensive (just to let Miss Texas/Miss R.N.G.R. know we were here!) and we were still six months away from Reno '82.
We picked up two more riders and horses and we began to look like we really were going to Reno. We even began the first gay mounted drill team and planned to show it off in Reno.
We were really caught up in this project now - cloggers, square dancers, mounted drill team, a constantly-growing rodeo team, and a Colorado shirt that told it all, "Colorado Rides with Pride". What are we missing? Oh yeah, somebody to compete for the Mr., Ms, Miss Reno National Gay Rodeo titles. We put together a competition in Denver called Mr., Ms., Miss Reno National Gay Rodeo of Colorado. Bob Van De Wyke won Mr., Robby won Ms., and the Drag Queen title of Miss created another Colorado tradition. I can only remember two of the contenders now - Miss Kitty and Belle Fontaine. Belle and her entourage were convinced that no one else had a chance and made great plans for her crowning. A huge bouquet of white roses were in the wings for her moment of glory, but surprise, surprise the title went to Miss Kitty and as Bell moved to the back of Charlies, her friends handed her the roses anyway and she proceeded to vent her frustration by beating the pool table into submission with the roses! Thanks to Belle, Colorado now presents each of is candidates with a mini bouquet just before announcing the winners. It lightens the tension and says thanks to all who participate as well as a lot of laughter after the announcements.
Rodeo, as we know it today, was well on its way. Colorado showed up in Reno 1982 with 42 contestants in the arena (over 2/3 of the entrants), the four man Mounted Drill Team, the wildly enthusiastic Mile High Square and Denver Country Clogger teams and over 350 people in our contingent and we did "Ride with Pride". The Reno '82 rodeo is another great story, but I'll have it for next issue meantime catch up to the circuit and
"Let's Rodeo".
By Jeannine Tuttle
It has been said that rodeo is the oldest and largest spectator sport in the United States. Keeping in line with the other sports played in our country, especially at the professional level, they are basically dominated by men. Rodeo being no exception to the rule, there has never been much opportunity for women to get involved, until now.
With the growth and development of the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) the doors were flung wide open for us to jump in with both feet, and so we did. Even though the total membership is only about 20% female, the women involved have held and still hold very prominent positions in the organization.
Starting at the beginning, the founding fathers of IGRA were not all fathers, there were some moms in there, too. On the political side, we have had women presidents at the chapter, state and international levels. Women have also served on and chaired the many different committees that we have in the association. Our input and involvement has not only been accepted, but also encouraged.
Another aspect of the association is the actual production of the rodeos and festivals. This is the area where we really deviate from the norm. This is when straight rodeo becomes the man's sport.
In the IGRA circuit, women are highly involved in the production and running of the rodeos. To produce a successful rodeo, it takes hundreds of volunteers to work all of the different jobs. There's security, tickets, entertainment, vendors, sound, logistics, and I'm sure I've left something out. Then you have the rodeo itself to staff. This group of people put in two long, hard days of work, but obviously they enjoy it because they come back rodeo after rodeo to volunteer.
One of the great things about being a volunteer is that experience is not a prerequisite. We will teach you everything you need to know to do the job. If you are not too sure about working with the stock, not a problem, there are plenty of other jobs to do in the arena that don't involve stock. There are a couple of areas that utilize specialized volunteers. These positions do require some prior experience. They are rodeo director, announcer, and rodeo clown. We have had a total of five clowns over the years, and currently one of them is a women.
There is one other group of volunteers I have not talked about yet and that's the certified officials. These folks work real hard to make sure that the rodeo runs smoothly and as quickly as possible without jeopardizing the safety of the staff, contestants, or animals. The certified positions are the arena director, the chute coordinator, the secretary, the scorekeeper, and the judges. It takes a lot of time and dedication to become certified in any of these area, and each program has its own requirements. There are seminars to attend, tests to take, and lots of arena time doing specific tasks in the affected areas. Women have been well represented in the area of certified officials. We currently have 45 certified officials and of the 45, fifteen are women. Quite a few of us are certified for more than one position.
You don't have to live in the country or been raised on a ranch to get involved with the rodeo. There is room for anyone with a desire and all positions are open to both men and women. The strength of this organization comes through the combined experience and knowledge of its members and our ability to work together and share that wealth with others. Rodeo is indeed a spectator sport, but as you can see it takes more that contestant and spectators to make it happen.
If you ever decide that watching is fun, but playing might be more fun, then come on and jump in.
Well, it's almost time for me to brush the dust off my copy of "ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER" (newly revised, of course). The International Gay Rodeo Association (I.G.R.A.) annual Convention is about to commence.
In September, 1985, the first annual convention was held in Denver, Colorado. Prior to that first convention there had been a total of fifteen gay rodeos. The first gay rodeo ever held was in Reno, Nevada, in 1976. It was followed with eight more rodeos as an annual event until it ran into financial difficulties after the 1984 rodeo. In June, 1983, the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association (C.G.R.A.) held their first rodeo in Denver. The following year, Texas added a rodeo in Houston to the schedule, and in 1985, California held their first rodeo in Los Angeles.
That first convention was organized by Wayne Jakino who is the founding president of I.G.R.A. The convention was attended by delegates from Colorado, Texas, California. Their first order of business was to add another member sssociation to international. Arizona was the fourth member association to join International. This convention was organized because all of the people involved saw a real need to establish uniform WRITTEN rules that would be used at all of the rodeos. The hope was that eventually there would be a gay rodeo circuit that would allow contestants to compete around the country on a more frequent basis. That hope has become reality!!
But as the number of rodeos has increased from one each year, to two, then three; five; six; seven; twelve; and this year fifteen, the need for the annual convention continues. Every year minor changes are made to existing rules to further clarify points that seem to have more than one interpretation. Changes to the Bylaws and Standing Rules have been necessary to try and help the organization deal with its' tremendous growth. The original four member sssociations have now grown to seventeen associations that include twenty three states, the District of Columbia, and the province of British Columbia.
My first involvement with convention was at the second convention which was also held in Denver. I was a fairly new face traveling to the rodeos. In 1986, I attended the rodeos in Los Angeles, Denver, and Oklahoma City prior to going to see the political end of rodeo. I didn't know many people at that time, so I kind of sat in the back of the room and kept my mouth shut. Since then, I have attended every one of the conventions. Sure, the politics are hot and heavy, but the comraderie found on the rodeo circuit is very evident, too. At the closing moments of the 1992 convention it was evident that the other delegates had reached the end of their endurance. They elected me president. I am convinced this was done because as president I am expected to run the convention, but keep my mouth shut!! This year's convention might be a real strain on my endurance.
This year, I.G.R.A. is expecting to add at least two more member associations to our rooster: The Heartland Gay Rodeo Association, which will represent the state of Nebraska, and the Illinois Gay Rodeo Association which may be ready to host their first rodeo next February. The next issue of RoundUp Magazine will have updated information on the 1994 rodeo schedule.
Now then, back to this years' schedule of rodeos! Last issue, I left off with the Great Plains Regional Rodeo in Oklahoma City which is regularly scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend. It was a great weekend and they are already planning their ninth rodeo to be held in 1994. The middle of June was the timing for the First Annual North Star Regional Rodeo which was held just outside of St. Paul, Minnesota. I can say first annual because I am sure there will be another rodeo there next year. It was a little "misty", but everyone had a great time. Fourth of July Weekend was the eleventh annual Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo in Denver. This was the second year that the rodeo was held indoors, and this year the "climate control" was NOT set on Tropical Heat. Put this one back on your travel schedule.
The next rodeo on the schedule is the second annual Great Plains Regional Rodeo in Wichita, Kansas, the weekend of August 13th-15th. This rodeo is also held at an indoor arena, and even though it may be hot outside, it is a very nice area for spectators and contestants. My schedule begins to get a little hectic at this point. Billings, Montana, hosts the ninth annual I.G.R.A. Convention which will be held August 26th-29th. These four days involve training seminars for rodeo officials, committee meetings prior to the start of convention, two nights of dance competition to determine the 1993 I.G.R.A. dance champions in four categories, and two days of convention to modify the existing bylaws, standing rules, and rodeo rules.
I will fly home on Monday and put in some long days at work, because I fly off to another rodeo on Friday. Labor Day weekend, September 3rd 5th, I will be at the first Great Plains Regional Rodeo to be held in Kansas City, Missouri. This will be the first weekend that contestants and spectators have ever had the opportunity to select one of two rodeos to attend. Labor Day weekend will also be the time for the third annual Zia Regional Rodeo which is held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Whichever rodeo you attend, I am sure you will have a great time.
Three more days of work, and I will be off to Seattle, Washington, for their first Greater Northwest International Rodeo which will be held September 1Oth-12th. This will be the first rodeo which has ever been hosted by a Member Association that geographically includes land outside of the United States. The name of INTERNATIONAL GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION will take on new meaning. The third weekend in September will be another opportunity to see one of two rodeos that are scheduled. Colorado Springs will be holding their third annual Pikes Peak United Rodeo, and the fifth annual San Diego will be held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. October 1st-3rd will see gay rodeo moving all the way across the country for the second annual Atlantic Stampede Rodeo in the Washington, D.C. area. I was not able to make it out there last year, and later heard that I missed a really great time. It is on my schedule for this year! The International Finals Rodeo will be hosted by the Texas Gay Rodeo Association in Fort Worth on October 22nd-24th. This rodeo will invite the top five qualifiers from each of the three divisions to compete for prize monies that have added up over the year to around $25,000. It should be an exciting rodeo to watch!
The start of the 1994 Rodeo Season will see another weekend with two choices. The tenth annual Texas Gay Rodeo will be held November 5th-7th. There is a lot of excitement over the fact that the rodeo will be held in San Antonio this year. At the same time out in California, the first Palm Springs Regional Rodeo will be added to the Division One rodeo circuit. You will all get a chance to do your holiday partying, as the next rodeo is not scheduled until the middle of January. Phoenix, Arizona, will be hosting their ninth annual Road Runner Regional Rodeo over the Martin Luther King Holiday Weekend. If you have never been to Phoenix in January, you'd better plan on coming to this one!
Hope to see you at one of the many I.G.R.A. rodeos that are scheduled over the next year. My thanks and congratulations to "RoundUp Magazine" for their excellent first issue, and for this second issue. It is a great way for all of the contestants and rodeo fans to keep up with rodeo results, photos, and stories about rodeo, dancing and country western activities.
Buckles of appreciation were presented to grand marshalls, Representative Karen Clark and Senator Alan Spear, longest-serving openly lesbian and gay state legislators in the U.S. Spear's buckle was sponsored by RoundUp magazine; Clark's by the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association.
After introducing the bills adding sexual orientation to Minnesota's Human Rights Act, Spear and Clark guided them through legislative process and onto victory this year. Their efforts made Minnesota the eighth state in the nation to recognize gay and lesbian rights.
The first North Star Regional Rodeo, sponsored by the North Star Gay Rodeo Association, was held at Lake Elmo, Minnesota, in June.
Rain and cool temperatures greeted rodeo participants and fans at the Washington County Fairgrounds.
Parties were held at the Radisson Hotel in St. Paul. Performers and groups included Borderline, Town House Country Cloggers, Shoreline from Milwaukee; Carol Anderson and Cathy Moore, First time amateur dance competion finalists; and Kelly Bascue, Little Rock, Arkansas, first runner-up Mr. Diamond State Rodeo Association.
The birthday of Miss IGRA 1993 Chili Pepper was also observed.
Howdy Rodeo Fans!
Since our last issue, there hasn't been alot of local rodeo activity - not to minimize, of course, all the long hours of sweat put in by committees and volunteers in preparation and planning for each upcoming event.
With Del Mar right around the corner, we have a couple of very exciting and hot rodeo days to look forward to, but instead I found myself reflecting on the past. It started off as sort of a rodeo version of Stonewall, but my reflection soon expanded to the history of Rodeo, both "their" events and ours.
I wondered how each event might have evolved over the years. Some of the standard events seem pretty self explanatory, but how about our more "special" events. We can wonder how good we are at taking events and situations used in the traditional straight world and adapting them somewhat to our more specific tastes. Sort of a process of taking what Grandma & Grandpa brought west along with the family spinning wheel and those cast iron pots and touching it with a little fairy dust.
I would like to investigate a great deal more into the history of rodeo in general and each event in particular. If any of you would like to contribute to the research, please send a letter with your version of rodeo history and we will compile it. Who knows, we could learn something and maybe have a little fun in the process.
Just a tease, for example, when and where did drag enter and event. Who first slipped a pair of Calvin Klein's over a goat's butt? Anyone really know for sure?
It also makes me wonder if there isn't someone out there in Rodeoland who isn't sitting there right now, brain storming a new event - wilder and wackier - a new contest of skills and wills, craziness and courage, strength and spunk.
Another thing we might want to think about is for the rodeo circuit to develop some real life rodeo heroes and heroines. Maybe becoming a household word might be reaching a bit, but I think we can use some real life role models. It just might make rodeo more participatory, less pedantic and much more personal.
At a recent weekend of the California Men's gathering, (part of the men's movement) 300 men were introduced to square dancing, I, for one, had my doubts about how it would be received. They fell over themselves in a rush to don a pair of boots and join the fun. Proof positive the western love and heritage is alive and well in all forms.
For those of us who continue to truly love the sights. sounds and smells of rodeo, we need to work to keep the rodeo alive and -- and keep those crowds coming, the chutes full and the roping "right on". ... Till next time . Let's Rodeo!!!
