Rodeo competitors, fans come to Chicagoland to raise money for local charities

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BY MATTHEW MACE
matthew.mace@nwitimes.com
219.933.3265 | Friday, September 05, 2008 | (No comments posted.)

Dust rolled through the audience as Miss Red fought her rider, Todd, between the barrel and the fence during the barrel race.

"Miss Red's just a little cranky today," the announcer called over the speaker. Todd wasn't happy.

But the announcer called for everyone to give them a hand as rider and horse headed back to the contestants' area hoping for a better try the next day.

The barrel race was one of many events at the 12th annual Windy City Rodeo.

MORE: View slideshow.

Hundreds of rodeo fans and competitors converged on the Six Guns Ranch and Arena in Crete, Ill., Aug. 22 to 24 to watch cowboys and cowgirls barrel race, bull ride, chute dog, dress a goat and more.

The event, hosted by the Illinois Gay Rodeo Association, raises money for local charities, said Tom Sheridan, Mr. Illinois Gay Rodeo Association 2008.

"It (the association) was created to give money back to charity," he said.

This year, the charity recipients were Howard Brown Health Center, Vital Bridges and DirectAid, said Co-Rodeo Director Michael Cunningham.

"We're out here having a good time raising money for our charity partners," Cunningham said as country music played in the background.

The Illinois association is part of the International Gay Rodeo Association, which has member rodeos in the United States and Canada, Cunningham said.

Terry Boge-Johnson, of Crawfordsville, Iowa, came to compete in the goat-dressing event, where two contestants are timed as they run 50 feet to put jockey shorts on a goat and run back.

Spectators with children laughed as they watched two contestants carefully maneuver around the goat to try to put on the shorts. Though successful at first, the shorts failed to stay on before they returned to their starting point.

"It's a very comfortable family atmosphere," Boge-Johnson said of the rodeo.

Peter Dillion traveled from Toronto, Canada, to compete in chute dogging, calf roping and steer riding. He likes the equality the rodeo gives men and women.

"Traditional rodeos restrict events women can compete in. Gay rodeos allow women equal footing to compete in," he said.

Local residents also volunteered their time for the event.

Colleen Stewart and Cherise Pretty, two female impersonators from Chicago, were in full makeup trying to stay cool in the afternoon heat.

As members of the rodeo's royalty board, they help keep tabs on the fund-raising, said Pretty, Miss Illinois Gay Rodeo Association 2008.

Pretty says the rodeo is important, because it raises money for its charity partners. "We do it in a fun way," she said.

For Stewart, originally from Highland, the rodeo is a way to honor friends who are no longer with her.

"It means a lot to me, because I've lost a lot of friends to AIDS. It's a way to give back to them," said Stewart, the rodeo's Miss Mary Christmas 2007.

In front of the dance tent, Jeremy Gregson, of Hobart, talked to friends as the country music line dancers' boots hit the dance floor in perfect rhythm to the music.

Gregson has been a spectator of the rodeo for several years and enjoys the friendly atmosphere. He believes events like the rodeo are important for the gay community.

"I think it's extremely important that we're here with rodeo, market days, pride to show a presence among communities within the straight world," he said.

CHARITIES
Howard Brown Health Center: Midwest's largest lesbian, gay and bisexual health organization. howardbrown.org.
Vital Bridges: Organization of healthcare professionals, educators, AIDS service providers, persons living with HIV/AIDS and community and business leaders. vitalbridges.org.
DirectAid: All-volunteer organization that provides emergency interim financial assistance for rent and utilities to qualified applicants living with AIDS. directaidchicago.org.

LEARN MORE
Illinois Gay Rodeo Association: ilgra.com
International Gay Rodeo Association: igra.com

EVENTS
The Windy City Rodeo had traditional rodeo events and some unique to gay rodeo competitions:
Calf Roping on Foot
Chute Dogging
Mounted Breakaway Roping
Team Roping
Bareback Bronc Riding
Goat Dressing
Pole Pending
Steer Riding
Barrel Racing
Steer Deco
Bull Riding
Flag racing
Wild Drag Race
Source: Program

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