Gay rodeo in Little Rock

Gay rodeo in Little Rock

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Contestants at the International Gay Rodeo in Arkansas, a Bible Belt state with a same-sex marriage ban on its books, competed in events from barrel racing to bull riding on the soft soil of a fairground that looked like just any small-scale rodeo held throughout the United States.

Arkansas has been one of the front-line states in the battle between cultural conservatives and those seeking expanded rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Wade Earp, 49, (left) competes in the Goat Dressing event.

Wade Earp sighed on a clear spring afternoon after a day of horse riding and said, "I wish we didn’t have to have a gay rodeo. I wish we could just rodeo."

Earp was a contestant at the event in Arkansas, one of the 13 U.S. states where same-sex marriage is not recognised.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in June whether to strike down bans on gay marriage nationwide.

"Everybody deserves equal treatment. Everybody deserves equal rights."
Wade Earp

Earp, 45, a native of Benton, Arkansas, was raised in a fundamentalist Christian denomination. He competed in barrel racing, calf roping and steer riding events.

The 35th edition of the Diamond State Rodeo in Little Rock event drew 75 contestants, far outnumbering spectators, from a dozen states and Canada, all hoping to qualify for the International Gay Rodeo 2016 finals in Las Vegas.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
"For years, no one would allow us to advertise it," said Sandy Bidwell, president of the Diamond State event, for fear protesters would create a disturbance. “My attitude is, let them. It’s free advertising.”

This year, they put up a sign directing traffic to the event, and no protesters came.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

For two days gays and lesbians and at least one transgendered man competed.

The arena's railings were festooned with the banners of corporate sponsors advertising products like beer, whiskey and personal lubricants.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

With same-sex marriage now legal in 37 states and Washington D.C., the focus has shifted to states such as Arkansas and the battle between social conservatives and those seeking expanded rights for the LGBT community.

Change might be right around the corner in Little Rock, the state capital, where in May 2014 a state judge declared unconstitutional Arkansas's ban on same-sex marriage.

But one year later, the Arkansas Supreme Court has yet to decide the state's appeal, prompting the chief justice and an associate justice to angrily accuse their colleagues of manufacturing a delay.

The Arkansas legislature this year approved a religious freedom bill that critics said would allow for residents to deny service to the LGBT community citing their religious beliefs.

Pressure from Arkansas-based retail giant Walmart Inc and other corporations along with rallies by gay rights activists helped spur the legislature to tone down the proposed law.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

“We’re not asking for anything special," Earp (left) insisted. "We just want what’s right."

For Earp and his partner, Jonathan Suder, 25, that means marriage, a legal covenant denied them in Arkansas and Texas.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

The contentious Arkansas debate over same-sex unions "has drawn our community in Arkansas closer than ever," organiser Bidwell says.

Bidwell, 68, (right) and Lisa Smith, 59, sidestepped the barrier in Arkansas by traveling from their home in Little Rock to wed in Bidwell’s native New York, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2011.

. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Yet to Ashley Vickers, (left) an event volunteer at Little Rock, having to leave the state to marry her partner, Sara Strickland, "is almost insulting."

“I pay taxes here," said Vickers, 29, a mental health technician. “I feel bad that I have to even considering going elsewhere to get married.”

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Slideshow

Gordon Satterly, 61, from Michigan (left) holds hands with his husband Richard Brand, 53, from Texas.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Gordon Satterly, 61, from Michigan (left) holds hands with his husband Richard Brand, 53, from Texas.

Two cowboys watch the rodeo.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Two cowboys watch the rodeo.

Kirk Carter, 51, (right) and his husband Shawn Eddings, 49, warm up with their horses.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Kirk Carter, 51, (right) and his husband Shawn Eddings, 49, warm up with their horses.

A judge gestures to a competitor.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A judge gestures to a competitor.

A cowboy wrestles a steer.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A cowboy wrestles a steer.

Wade Earp competes in the calf-roping event.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Wade Earp competes in the calf-roping event.

Todd Tramp, 51, competes.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Todd Tramp, 51, competes.

A competitor displays prize ribbons and a belt buckle.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A competitor displays prize ribbons and a belt buckle.

A "Princess parking only" sign is displayed on a golf cart.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A "Princess parking only" sign is displayed on a golf cart.

Greg Smith, 47, from Alabama (left) waits to compete in the Wild Drag Race.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Greg Smith, 47, from Alabama (left) waits to compete in the Wild Drag Race.

Mipsy Mikels, 50, smokes a cigarette.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Mipsy Mikels, 50, smokes a cigarette.

Raymond Norris, 45, rides a steer while competing in the Wild Drag Race.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Raymond Norris, 45, rides a steer while competing in the Wild Drag Race.

A man washes a horse.
. LITTLE ROCK, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A man washes a horse.