The Rurban Gay Rodeo
Posted on | May 25, 2009 | 3 Comments
It’s official … the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) is stepping out of the urban closet to bring gay rodeo to Calgary’s eastern rural-urban fringe.
Excerpt from the Calgary Herald …
“Gay rodeo in Strathmore?
It seems out of character for a town that just might typify the rural Alberta stereotype. Agriculture, oil and gas are its main economic drivers, it has 10 churches serving a population of just over 11,000, and it is home to the Calgary Stockyards livestock auction market.
It doesn’t get much more Alberta than that.
Yet the community appears more than willing to embrace its unconventional guests.”
And why not?! As one of the largest GLBT events in Western Canada, it’s touted as a pre-Stampede event and will bring thousands of dollars into the community, as well as return thousands of dollars to charitable groups in and around the city. ARGRA is a not-for-profit organization.
A local newspaper poll, however, reported that approximately 90% of the population is against the gay rodeo, demonstrating that the divide between urban and rural markets is often not a geographic divide, it’s a mindset divide.
And just in case you needed a reason to attend, may I present … gay rodeo goat dressing! Seriously … I couldn’t make this stuff up …
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Tags: Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association > gay rodeo > goat dressing > rural > rurban > Strathmore
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3 Responses to “The Rurban Gay Rodeo”
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May 25th, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
It was disappointing that the article in the Calgary Herald only re-enforced stereotypes that never were accurate.
Alberta may include – agriculture, livestock, auctions, oil, gas, etc.
But those things are NOT unique to Alberta.
Nor do those things not already include glbttq people.
GLBTTQ people are involved in agriculture, oil, gas, livestock operations, auctions and live in rural communities all over Alberta.
Also, events like goat dressing are on exclusive to gay rodeo either. Time to get over that stereotype. Fun events like goat dressing occur at many rodeos.
This video gives a broader picture of ARGRA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ucad8H5xH60
May 25th, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
@ Ty – You’re absolutely right … thanks for the link.
June 26th, 2009 @ 8:36 am
The Rurban Gay Rodeo…
It’s official … the Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) is stepping out of the urban closet to bring gay rodeo to Calgary’s eastern rural-urban fringe….