While lounging amongst hundreds of lesbians at HRC’s Dinah Lakeshore event two weekends ago, we noticed a few people emerge from the mass of tank tops in full-on Western-wear: they were there to spread the word about the Texas Gay Rodeo Association’s Capitol City Rodeo. Hopelessly hypnotized by the man’s Southern drawl and his ability to delve into the most fascinating details concerning the art of calf roping, we were already sold on the event before setting our eyes on the powerful vision that was the female promoter — she sported a massive belt buckle, intricate embroidery, and one hell of a tucked-in shirt (fans of Brandi Carlile that witnessed last Wednesday’s mind-blowing concert at the TX Union Ballroom will understand the appeal).

In its 24th year, this weekend's Capitol City Rodeo is still a four-day-long, action-packed affair that knows it can have the best of both worlds — there are the hardcore rodeo events (bareback bronco riding, barrel horse races), and then there are the amusing, campy events that really drive home the “gay” part of a gay rodeo (Wild Drag Race! Goat Dressing!). Cowboys and cowgirls will be throwing down at the Travis County Expo Center, with proceeds to benefit the Breast Cancer Resource Center, AIDS Services of Austin, and Project Transitions.

The men and women of Capitol City Rodeo prove that the “queer eye” can span many a field, arena, and genre. If you want in, though, you'd better be able to rough it and play with the big bulls—prerequisites for even the camp events include “a willingness to eat dirt and the ability to hold your own with an ornery steer or goat.”

[Schedule of Events]
[More Info]

Capitol City Rodeo
September 20-23
Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Ln.
$15 per person, $25 for couples

Photo from Corkyswitzer on Flickr