GLT: Who makes up San Diego’s Gay Rodeo Royalty?

GRR: Mr. San Diego Rodeo 2010: Travis Fink, Mr. San Diego 1st Runner Up 2010: Phillip Faustman, Ms. San Diego Rodeo 2010: Julie Hoffman, Miss. San Diego Rodeo 2010: Sybil Savannah (Thomas Hayes), MsTer. San Diego Rodeo 2010: Lee Hollow-Wood (Summer White).

GLT: What part does Royalty play in the rodeo?

GRR: The Royalty members are here to help raise funds to put the rodeo on and to be liaisons between the rodeo and other organizations. We are entertainers out in the community and are somewhat there to be a face for the rodeo. But it is equally important for us to educate people about the rodeo and its’ events, while at the same time promoting the western lifestyle.

GLT: How long have you and the San Diego Royalty been involved in the gay rodeo?

GRR: My partner Julie Hoffman, our Ms., and I have been volunteering for the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association since 2006. Mr. San Diego Rodeo, Travis Fink, has been with the rodeo just over a year. Phillip Faustman, Mr. 1st. Runner Up, has been involved for more than 2 Years and Thomas Hayes our Miss., Sybil Savannah, has been volunteering with the rodeo for 3 years, but has been part of the rodeo peripherally for more then 8 years because of his participation as a dancer with the Kickers Cloggers.

GLT: What are the differences between the rodeo circuit and the gay rodeo circuit?

GRR: The gay rodeo has many of the same type of events that the traditional rodeo circuit does, but we have a few added events that they don’t have. These events are called camp events and they set us apart from the traditional rodeo circuit. We have “Goat Dressing”, an event that challenges a pair of contestants to slip a pair of titty-whities on a goat. “Steer Decorating”, where a couple ties a bow on a steers tail and “Wild Drag”, where a women and a man attempt to put a drag queen on a steer. These events are fun to watch and are often the first events a new competitor gets their feet wet with.

Gay rodeo is also available to women, whereas the regular rodeo circuit is geared towards men. We welcome all in our rodeo, just as you would expect from most gay groups.

GLT: The rodeo has a rich background and culture. Can you tell us about it and how it started?

GRR: The Emperor 1 of Reno, Phil Ragsdale decided that in 1975 a rodeo would be a good way to raise money and to break many of the gay stereotypes of the day, so he began to make plans to put on a rodeo. After much work and many roadblocks, he was able to get things together and put his rodeo on. So, on October 2, 1976 the first rodeo was held in Reno at the Washoe County Fair Grounds.

In 1977 Phil founded the Comstock Gay Rodeo Association and at his next rodeo he added the “Mr., Ms., Miss., National Reno Gay Rodeo” contest to benefit Muscular Dystrophy. This first contest was the beginning of what would eventually morph into “royalty” in the rodeo.

GLT: For those who are not involved with the rodeo, how would you describe what it is all about?

GRR: We are an organization committed to promoting the GLBTQ Country lifestyle in a positive manner and to supporting sportsmanship through rodeo. We are an association that raises money for charity and we have a good time making friends, while helping people at the same time. Competing in the rodeo is just a part of what the rodeo is about. Even people like me that are unable participate in rodeo can contribute and enjoy what rodeo has to offer.

GRR: In 2006 I was on the board of directors of The Lupus Foundation of Southern California and at that time GSGRA-GSDC came to the foundation to donate proceeds to the foundation. Being the only openly gay member of the board I was asked to take on the task of organizing the collaboration between the two groups. After working with the folks from the rodeo that first year, my partner Julie and I had such a great feeling from all of the people we met, that we decided to get involved with the rodeo.

GLT: If people want to donate to the rodeo or get involved who do they need to contact?

GRR: The best way to get information about getting involved with the rodeo is go to our website at www.sandiegorodeo.org for our local San Diego chapter. Or if you are in another part of the country you can go to www.igra.com and find an association near you.