Eric Mills

UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT - As a gay man, I find the mere idea of a "Gay Rodeo" more than sad. Have we learned so little from our own long history of oppression? Rodeo is an inherently-cruel macho exercise in DOMINATION. There are major connections to be made with the sexual harassment of women now dominating the news.

Consider this quote from an 18-year-old Oregon Rodeo Queen: "What me and my rodeo friends really hate are Democrats, environmentalists and gays." One can easily guess whom they voted for. (--in the book, "Rodeo Queens and the American Dream," by Prof. Joan Burbick)

And this gem, from a Wyoming steer wrestler: "Women should not rodeo any more than men can have babies. Women were put on earth to reproduce, and are close to animals. Women's liberation is on an equal to gay liberation--they are both ridiculous." (--in the book, "Rodeo: An Anthropologist Looks at the Wild and the Tame," by Elizabeth Atwood Lawrence, U. of Tennessee Press, 1982)

Gay folks are notoriously creative. Surely we can come up with a more compassionate, life-affirming entertainment than rodeo. For most of the animals unwillingly involved, rodeo is merely a detour en route to the slaughterhouse. They (and we) deserve better.

Season's Greetings, Peace on Earth to All Creatures.

Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland