Arizona gay rodeo 2025
By Kari Mauser
From the moment he attended his first gay rodeo in 1988, photographer Blake Little was hooked. “I was completely drawn to it and I had to be a part of it,” he stated. “I wanted to be a cowboy.” Pursuing the thrill of his own cowboy dreams through the International Lgbtq+ Rodeo Association (IGRA), Small became immersed in the spirited Western community. As a participant, Little initiate himself in a distinct place where he could draw on his fire for photography and utilize his background and skills as a photographer to document the gay rodeo through his camera lens.
Little knew, of course, that the view through a camera lens can be unique, often capturing the world from a other angle than seen when simply passing by. Through his photographs, he invites us to view things as they are, while also challenging us to see them from a different perspective.
What resulted was a series of 41 stunning black-and-white photographs taken between 1988 and 1992. On exhibit at the HDM from December 15, 2017, through April 30, 2018, Blake Little: Photographs from the Gay Rodeo, presents a glimpse into a little-known world, allowing us to explore a story with the affection of an ins
Gay rodeos are a safe space for people like Moss. In Trump’s America, that's changing
Watch Dateline’s latest episode from the largest queer rodeo in the United States on SBS On Demand.
America's Gay Rodeo
In the dusty chutes of the Corona Ranch grounds on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, Moss Scavenger waits patiently alongside a restless steer.
With their brightly painted fingernails wrapped around its horns, they prepare to burst into the arena, surrounded by celebration flags and raving fans.
"Gay and rodeo have always gone together," Moss says. "You look at a cowboy with that fringe, and you tell me that's not a little gay."
It’s Moss’s first time competing in a rodeo. Over the next two days, they’ll compete for a coveted Arizona belt buckle against dozens of ropers, wranglers and riders who have come from all over the country.
Gay rodeos started in the 1970s to create a more inclusive cosmos and raise funds for LGBTIQ+ causes while engaging in one of America's favourite traditions. Source: SBS / Josh McAtamney
2025
Future dates are tentative. Check help near the end of 2028 to confirm 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. Test back near the end of 2026 to confirm the event is still scheduled
Future dates are tentative. Check back near the end of 2026 to validate the event is still scheduled
October, 2030
First posted Dec 24, 2013
Last update Jul 18, 2025
Buy Arizona Gay Rodeo Tickets
Giddy up with Arizona Gay Rodeo tickets. Presented by the Arizona Same-sex attracted Rodeo Association, this amazing rodeo is a volunteer program that hosts an annual rodeo. The proceeds from the Arizona Gay Rodeo go to local LGBTQ+ charities. One of the key tenets of the Arizona Gay Rodeo is non-discrimination based on sex, gender, sexual orientation and more. The Arizona Gay Rodeo is about love and community and is not an event to miss.
The Arizona Gay Rodeo is perfect for the whole family and includes a “Games on the Green” portion of the event where kids and adults can participate in rodeo games on the field. In addition to “Games on the Green”, the Arizona Gay Rodeo has all the classic rodeo events like bull riding, barrel racing, steer riding and chute dogging. Some events featured at this rodeo that might not be seen at other rodeos include steer decorating and goat dressing. Although it may sound silly, goat dressing is a lot harder than it looks. Unlike other rodeos, the Arizona Gay Rodeo also has party buses going to the rodeo grounds for those wanting more from their rodeo experience. Approach experience the delight of the rodeo