by Janet Mock
First published 2020
Luke Gilford grew up in Colorado surrounded by traditional rodeo culture through his father's involvement with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The world he knew often carried conservative attitudes and homophobic undercurrents. Years later, Gilford discovered the International Gay Rodeo Association, which organizes LGBTQ+ cowboy and cowgirl communities across North America. This revelation opened his eyes to a different kind of rodeo family where people of all races and gender expressions find acceptance. For over three years, Gilford traveled throughout America to photograph this community. He used medium-format film and traditional darkroom printing to capture the educational programs, competitions, and personal moments that define queer rodeo culture. The participants come from rural areas seeking athletic development, animal care skills, personal growth, and mutual support. Gilford's photographs reveal both intimate portraits and wider scenes of this evolving subculture, showing his deep connection to the people he documents.
Genres: american, biography-memoir, 21st-century, activism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-growth
Setting: Colorado, North America
Period: Contemporary
176 pages · Hardcover · Damiani