Gay rodeo association saddles up for charity

Brett McAfee

A cowgirl wrangles a small calf at the 12th annual BigHorn Rodeo at Horseman’s Park. The rodeo is a four-day event sponsored by the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association.

By Cydney Cappello (contact)

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 | 2 a.m.

A cowboy wrestles a feeble goat to the ground and instead of tying its legs as one might expect, he adorns the goat with a pair of jockey shorts. Right away, you know this isn't your average rodeo.

For one weekend, the nonprofit Nevada Gay Rodeo Association is taking over Horseman’s Park for its annual BigHorn Rodeo to raise money for charities.

This is the 12th year of the rodeo, which includes 110 contestants competing in 13 events. Most contestants compete in more than one event, including everything from bull riding to events special to the rodeo, like goat dressing -- an event where contestants captures a goat to put boxer shorts on it.

“What makes our rodeo different is men and women are allowed to compete in the same events, so we have women bull riders and men that do barrels,” rodeo director Mitch Gill said.

Contestants don't have to be gay to compete, but do have to be a member of one of 28 International Gay Rodeo Associations.

Part of each contestant’s entry fee goes toward prize money. The money isn't enough to make a career out of it, so many participants are ranchers by profession who compete in rodeos as a hobby.

"It's all really about family. Yeah, we're all competitive, we're all out here to win, but at the end of the day we work hard during the day and we play hard at night," said Janice Gimbel, who holds the title of Ms. Capital. The title was earned from the NGRA Royalty competition that took place in February, and she will reign until next year's competition. NGRA royalty are expected to represent NGRA and actively raise money for the association.

With food, beverages and a performance stage, there is more to do than watch the rodeo. The music group Steele, James & Nickels, country singer-songwriter Mike Schikora and the LA Wranglers, a clogging group, all performed this year.

The NGRA, founded in 1992, is using the rodeo to raise money this year for the Sin Sity Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the Winged Dragon Society, Inc. The Sin Sity Sisters help those with AIDS in the Las Vegas area with co-pays and other needs, while the Winged Dragon Society runs a lunch program to help the disabled.

The BigHorn Rodeo continues through Sunday, ending with an awards ceremony at 8 p.m. in Horseman’s Park. Sunday tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the park.