Queer Cowboys Take Center Stage: World Gay Rodeo Finals Marks 50 Years in Reno

In October 2025, the World Gay Rodeo Finals (WGRF) returned to Reno, Nevada, for a landmark 50th-anniversary celebration, transforming the city’s Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center into a vibrant display of LGBTQ+ pride and Western tradition. Hosted by the International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA), the event brought together hundreds of competitors, fans, and allies to honor five decades of queer resilience, cowboy spirit, and the ongoing quest for inclusion in country and rodeo culture .

Since its founding in 1976, the IGRA has provided a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ individuals to participate in rodeo sports historically dominated by cisgender, heterosexual men. The Finals have grown into the world’s preeminent queer rodeo event, with this year’s milestone drawing particular attention to the ongoing struggle for acceptance within both the rodeo world and broader society .

The festivities spanned four days, beginning with a historical bus tour highlighting the roots of gay rodeo in Nevada and the significance of the 1988 IGRA Finals, which faced cancellation due to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination at the time. The tour and accompanying panels offered personal accounts from rodeo pioneers, underscoring how far the community has come and the challenges that remain .

Across Saturday and Sunday, the Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center buzzed with classic rodeo competitions—bull riding, barrel racing, flag racing, and team roping—alongside signature gay rodeo events like goat dressing and drag steer riding, a playful nod to the community’s unique blend of tradition and subversion .

The Finals also featured the IGRA Royalty Competition, crowning new rodeo ambassadors who serve as advocates for LGBTQ+ inclusion, and a packed schedule of dance workshops and nightly parties, reflecting the event’s dual commitment to both sport and social connection .

For many, the Finals are more than a sporting event—they serve as a joyful reunion and a living testament to the endurance of queer Western culture. Contestants and spectators alike described the event as a place where all identities, whether gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or nonbinary, are celebrated through shared tradition and camaraderie .

The 2025 Finals arrived at a pivotal time for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, with ongoing debates over inclusion in sports and rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in some regions. Organizers and participants emphasized the importance of claiming space in arenas where queer people have historically been marginalized—both literally and figuratively .

IGRA President Cody Williams noted, “Every year, we see more people from all walks of life come together in support of our mission. The Finals are proof that LGBTQ+ people belong everywhere—even in the heart of rodeo country” .

This year’s event also drew support from local businesses, civic leaders, and LGBTQ+ organizations, bolstered by a broader movement to recognize and celebrate queer history in the American West. The host hotels—Silver Legacy, Circus Circus, and Eldorado—welcomed rodeo guests with inclusive programming and special events, further affirming Reno’s status as a destination for LGBTQ+ travelers .

As the 50th anniversary concluded with the traditional awards ceremony and farewell dance, participants reflected on the legacy of the World Gay Rodeo Finals and the road ahead. For many, the event remains more than a celebration—it is an act of visibility and defiance, a declaration that LGBTQ+ people have always been a part of Western heritage and will continue to shape its future .

“Being here, in this arena, surrounded by my chosen family, I feel seen and valued in a way that’s hard to describe,” said rodeo participant Jamie Lopez. “We’re not just rewriting the rules—we’re showing the world that our stories belong in the history books too” .

With a renewed commitment to inclusion, advocacy, and tradition, the IGRA looks ahead to the next 50 years, determined to keep the spirit of queer rodeo alive—one ride, one dance, and one community at a time .