This weekend is the fourth annual Sunshine Stampede gay rodeo at Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie. The picture at right and those below are Miami Herald file photos from previous gay rodeos in Davie. (Click photos to enlarge.)
Ellie Brecher, our Crazy for Critters blogger, sent me this news release tonight about a planned protest on Saturday by Animal Rights Foundation of Florida:
The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida plans demonstration against the Gay Rodeo in Davie, FL
DATE: Saturday April 4, 2009
TIME: 11 A.M. – 1 P.M.
PLACE: Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, Davie, FL.
(Davie) - Rodeos are violent and encourage brutal treatment of animals and insensitivity to animal suffering. It is common for the animals in rodeo events to suffer multiple physical injuries and to be psychologically scarred for life. The Gay Rodeo in Davie is no exception, and the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida will protest the cruel event on April 4, 2009 from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M.
Steers are subjected to painful tail-twisting to make them run from chutes. Terrified baby calves are chased around the arena during the calf-roping* event, before being snapped to a halt by a lasso tightened around their necks. It is common for these animals to suffer multiple injuries.
In the “bronc riding” or “bull riding” events, the animals are physically provoked into displaying so-called “wild” behavior through the use of bucking straps or electric prods. Take away the cruel tail-twisting, the painful electro-shock prods and bucking straps, and you take away the rodeo.
“Unless you like to support extreme animal cruelty, the rodeo is not for you,” said Brad King, ARFF volunteer. “It is true that cowboys, cowgirls and animals all risk injury in the rodeo, but the animals do not have a choice about whether or not to participate.”
ARFF encourages people (including cowboys and cowgirls) who respect animals to stay clear of the Gay Rodeo and to join in ARFF’s protest. Visit or call ARFF for more details:
http://animalrightsflorida.org/Calendar.html/ 954.727.2733.
Thank you!
*This event has recently been renamed "tie-down roping" by the rodeo to deflect criticism.
I am so happy that these activists are out there protesting this rediculous event. there is no reason these animals need to be harmed or used for entertainment, EVER!
Posted by: M DiMartino | April 04, 2009 at 09:39 PM