Reno Gay Rodeo

by Jeff Auer

The Reno Gay Rodeo was the brainchild or Philip Ragsdale. It was the first gay rodeo held in the world.

1976 - The first rodeo was held at the Washoe County Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 2.

1977 - The second rodeo was held at the Washoe County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, August 20-21.

1978 - The third rodeo was held at the Washoe County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, August 5-6.

1979 - The fourth rodeo was held at the Washoe County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, August 4-5.

1980 - The fifth rodeo was held at the Washoe County Fairgrounds in August.

1981 - The sixth rodeo was held at the Washoe County Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, August 1-2.

1982 - The seventh rodeo was held at the Nevada State Fairgrounds from Friday - Sunday, July 30 - August 1. Grand marshalls were Joan Rivers and Country Western Star Rose Madoxx.

1983 - The eighth annual rodeo was held Friday - Sunday, August 5-7. It is protested by a right wing christian coalition that states that the rodeo is leading to the spread of AIDS.

1984 - The ninth and final rodeo is held in August. A dispute with Washoe County Fairgrounds and the Sands Hotel brought the Internal Revenue Service in and they seized the rodeo’s books.

1988 - Reno was scheduled to hold the second International Gay Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo at the Lawler Events Center on the University of Nevada campus. The event didn't happend and last minute scrambling found a ranch in Fallon to hold the event. A contract with a private ranch was voided when a local district attorney filed an injunction two days before the finals to stop the event. The case went to the Nevada Supreme Court, which failed to overturn the injunction.

2006 - Friday-Sunday November 10-12 the Reno Gay Rodeo returned to the Washoe County fairgrounds for the last time. <comments />