Rodeos are a cultural staple of the American south. The bulls, the horses, the lasso. A gay rodeo has all those things, with equally capable participants. But it also has goat dressing, a drag contest and provides a family for gay men and women who might not be accepted by their own.The Guardian travelled to the Oklahoma gay rodeo to meet some of the participants, soak up the atmosphere and find out why the event – now in its 30th year – is so dear to cowboys' and cowgirls' hearts