GSGRA Sashes State Rodeo Royalty for 2010
(L-R) Gilliland, Ophelia & Jimenez
San Diego played host to the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association (GSGRA) Annual Convention and Royalty Contest over the weekend (January 30-31.) The two-day convention, held at the San Diego LGBT Community Center sets the agenda for the four rodeo chapters throughout the state as well as sashes the Royalty team, the titleholders representing California’s gay rodeo circuit who will go on to compete in the Mr. and Miss International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA) Convention and Royalty Contest in Reno, NV later this fall.
For the second year in a row, San Diego is home to the Mr. & Miss GSGRA with both Ophelia (Ricky Walker) and Kelly Gilliland wining back-to-back titles, Miss and Mr. respectively. Mr. GSGRA First Runner-up went to Joseph Jimenez from the Bay Area rodeo chapter (more photos below.)
“Attendees at this year’s state convention loved the Center, it was a great venue,” said Miss GSGRA 2010 Ophelia. “I’d personally like to thank all our sponsors including Gossip Grill, the Center and San Diego Desserts for helping make the convention one of the best we’ve had in recent years. This was the first time that GSGRA and the Imperial Court really came together, and we’re looking forward to being more united with the Court and collaborating on many fundraising and educational outreach activities.” Ophelia continued, “The Imperial Court started the IGRA and it was fantastic to have so many representatives from the Court at the Royalty contest.”
Both Ophelia and Gilliland look forward to competing in the IGRA Royalty contest and have already started preparations for the event. Though California has had several Mr. IGRA titleholders, should Ophelia win Miss IGRA this year, she will be the first to bring the title to California in the rodeo’s history.
“The State board was extremely pleased with the hospitality of the GSGRA-GSDC and the Center for hosting a successful 2010 Convention and a fabulous Royalty pageant,” says Chris Caufield, President of the GSGRA. “We look forward to coming back to San Diego September 10-12 for the San Diego Rodeo.”
The GSGRA Rodeo events for 2010 are:
- Hot Rodeo, Palm Springs – April 30 – May 2
- Bay Area Rodeo, San Francisco – August 13-15
- Greater San Diego Rodeo, San Diego – September 10-12
