Florida Agenda

ALEX VAUGHN

One of my favorite things about the gay community in Florida is the amount of events we have and how many people get involved. Be it Mardi Gras, Cinqo De Mayo, Halloween or whatever, the community gets dressed up and brings the event for all to enjoy. I have never been to a place in the world that comes together so wonderfully for an event.  The outfits, the vibe – it all works, and this weekend will undoubtedly be no different. It’s the Gay Rodeo.

I have personally never been to, or to be honest, heard of a Gay Rodeo before.  As this weekends’ festivities approach, however, I am sure Wilton Manors will look like an extras break on the set of a full-scale western.  I am picturing buckles and Stetsons as far as the eye can see.

I’ve started thinking about cowboys. What is it exactly that makes them so attractive? The cowboy has long been a staple of gay fantasy, alongside cops and construction workers. Then Brokeback Mountain came along and with it Willie Nelson’s song that explained cowboys are ‘secretly frequently fond of each other’.

So, is it just fantasy based on tight jeans and a bad boy image? Or maybe the cowboy speaks to more than we think. Historically, some men were drawn to the frontier because they were attracted to men.  In a region where men significantly outnumbered women, social events normally attended by both sexes were at times men only, and men would partner up with one another for dances. Homosexual acts between young, unmarried men occurred, but cowboy culture itself was and remains deeply homophobic; so what on earth do we want to be involved with that for? Because it’s fun, it’s dangerous and it’s HOT. Besides that was then.  Now the ‘gay cowboy’ is a hugely attractive concept. As there will be many in Florida this weekend, let’s get down to why we can’t help but love a cowboy.

First off, there is the look. The hat, the boots the tight jeans, that toothpick hanging out of his mouth and that plaid shirt that’s just a bit tight on the arms. Then the undeniable masculinity of a cowboy –  he doesn’t use moisturizers or product, he’s raw and a bit of rough.  He walks the planes alone with no human contact as such, just him and his animals. He doesn’t need anyone. He is a loner; he speaks to that need for protection.  The idea, undoubtedly, attracts the feelings of isolation many feel within the community. Of course, there is also that desire to have independence.

Then there is the gun, giving that romantic image just that little bit of danger, but he uses it to hunt and protect, rather than to shoot up a Miami club. He has morals (well, at least in the fantasy). He has honor and he will fight to protect that. The cowboy of our dreams can control large, strong animals with just a rope, taking the imagination further into the sexual psyche.  Due to the work he does, he is in incredible physical shape –  no fat –  just pure outdoorsman muscle. He has a sexual power and magnetism that no other fantasy character has. He doesn’t have authority like the cop, or brute strength like the construction worker. Dime store novels and movies have given him a sensitive side, a romantic heart that can be melted.  He will sweep you off your feet and/or hog tie you at the same time.

We are attracted to the other side, the sensitive side, to a strong and silent mystique. We can reach in and identify with the ‘reality vs. the reality’.  The image the cowboy gives off is strong and unassuming. He’s simply a man.

Then there are all the other trappings: That devil-may-care attitude as he rides that bucking bronc. The stubble that’s rough, not because he is metrosexual but because he is a real man –  it isn’t sculpted, it’s natural. The tan isn’t from a salon or from lying on Sebastian Beach, he got it working hard outside in the fresh air.  Look back at the westerns with Clint Eastwood – he was the quintessential straight man. He oozes masculinity and is always the hero.

Remember, Florida is still predominantly horse country.  Standing in a bar in Fort Lauderdale (unless it’s Scandals) you could very easily forget that a cowboy isn’t that far away. I am not suggesting you even dream of riding out to Davie to try and seduce a cowboy. However, do get into the vibe this weekend, get your boots and jeans on, put that hat on and enjoy the ride.

Alex Vaughn is the Editor-in-Chief of the Florida Agenda.  He can be  reached at editor@FloridaAgenda.com

By ALEX VAUGHN & ERIC CHRISTIAN

The American cowboy roamed the plains west of the Mississippi River in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. The cowboy developed a functional manner of dress that suited his unique lifestyle. The American cowboys borrowed much of their clothing, along with many of their customs, from the earlier vaqueros, herdsmen of Mexican and American Indian descent who migrated northward over the Rio Grande River into Texas. Necessity also dictated a lot of the cowboy’s attire. A typical cowboy outfit consisted of a muslin (sheer cotton fabric) shirt with a waistcoat (similar to a vest), and denim or buckskin trousers. Chaps were made of leather or animal hide, often with the fur left on the outside, and covered only the front of the legs to allow for freedom of movement. Chaps were attached by a belt at the waist and tied along the back of the legs. Some early chaps were fringed at the seams.

Another essential component of cowboy style was the wide-brimmed hat, designed to protect the wearer from the harsh elements of the open plain, especially the blistering sun. A kerchief tied loosely around the neck performed a variety of functions for the cowboy. He could use it to protect his mouth and nose from dust, cover the back of his neck to prevent sunburn, or tie it around his head to keep his hat from blowing off on windy days. It could even be used as a makeshift sling for a broken arm. Red was the preferred color for these versatile bandanas, often called wipes.

Still popular in the twenty-first century is the cowboy boot, the most expensive part of the cowboy’s wardrobe. A high “Cuban heel” prevented the wearer’s foot from slipping through his stirrup. When dismounting from a horse, the heels dug into the ground to ensure good footing. Early cowboy boots had square toes, though round and pointed styles eventually came into fashion. By the 1890s, fancy cowboy boots were being sold through mail-order catalogs.

While the cowboy era lasted barely a generation, the cowboy style lives on in the form of dime novels, movie serials, and television programs and remains a popular style of dress for many people in the United States.