CAMP Profile

Whoa! There’s gonna be a hoedown in town, and two local women, Sharon Messina and Jennifer Rubenstein, are making it happen.

On Sunday, July 13, from 1-5 p.m. at Cape Henlopen State Park it’s going to be appropriate to take your cowboy or cowgirl boots to the beach. Don’t have boots? No matter, you can show up for the food, drink and dancing.

Sharon and Jen, in connection with the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association (ASGRA), have put together a first-ever Stampede event here at the beach. There will be an afternoon tea dance in the shade of the state park picnic pavilion, and the atmosphere will be kept cool with the music of DJ Shark (that’s Sharon) of Dune Tunes—plus fans and water misters to keep the temperature down.

The aim of the local hoedown is to spark interest from Delmarva for ASGRA, which promotes the sport of rodeo and the country/western lifestyles in the gay and lesbian community. They also educate, train, and field individuals and teams to compete in rodeos. Gay rodeos take place throughout the year, all around the country, and Canada. The organization has been operating since 1991 and is growing bigger every year. At the beach event there will be information available about membership in the organization.

For country-western dance fans, Gay rodeos are heaven. There are huge dance events at every stop on the circuit. Likewise, every stop on the gay rodeo circuit raises money for charity. Therefore, this event at the beach sponsored by ASGRA will be fun, but it might be even more.

According to Jen, since the Rodeo Association’s purpose, along with the fun and events, is to raise money for charity, a local connection may just turn into a fundraising opportunity for local groups.

"At the Atlantic Stampede, the events are fabulous, but so are the parties and dances," says Jen, who has taught country-western dancing in DC. Locally, she has taught classes at the Rehoboth Beach YMCA. On July 13, she will be teaching two-step and waltz at the state park for any interested novices. Between Sharon’s DJ experience and Jen’s dance lessons, the event promises to be memorable.

The gals’ interest in rodeo events and dance comes naturally to them. Jen began riding horses when she was a tot, growing up to compete in dressage and jumping in her native California. Here on the East Coast, she traded English style riding for cheering on the Western style rodeo.

Following the gay rodeo events "brought two parts of my life together," says Jennifer. In fact, Jen met Sharon in D.C. at a country-western dance.

They moved to Rehoboth about three years ago, having fallen in love with the place when vacationing. "We’ve loved this place forever," says Sharon. "We had a five-year plan to relocate, but when Jennifer’s company downsized I told her not to bother looking for another job!"

Sharon left her job at the International Monetary Fund so the pair could put down roots in Rehoboth. She had side-lined as a DJ since high school and now does the party circuit, working just as many straight gigs as gay ones. Jen works for a local accounting firm. Between them, they’ve got music and dance going on everywhere.

As for the 2003 Atlantic Stampede, the rodeo takes place Sept. 5, 6, 7 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, Maryland. "If you’ve never been to gay rodeo (or any rodeo) before, get ready for excitement and laughs," says Sharon. "In addition to traditional rodeo events, (bronco riding, barrel races, etc.) there are side-splittingly hysterical camp events that could only be pulled off by dykes and drag queens. And of course lots of dancing."

According to Sharon, "The group is looking for some Delmarva representation in the stands at this year’s Atlantic Stampede—and if you’re brave enough, on the field!" There are plenty of nearby hotels in Gaithersburg, some of which take pets.

And speaking of animals, often animal rights activists have complaints about traditional rodeos. Sharon invites people with that concern to check out the Atlantic States Gay Rodeo Association animal welfare policies online at www.asgra.org/welfare.htm.

So Jen and Sharon want everyone to bring their boots to the beach on July 13. Admission for the dance is FREE. Park admission is $2.50/car (Delaware tags) or $5.00/car (out of state tags). You can arrive early to enjoy the park, which has beautiful trails, a fishing pier, beaches and a bathhouse. Stop by the park Visitor Center for more information. Cape Henlopen State Park is located one mile east of Lewes, just past the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal. Follow signs for the Ferry Terminal, but once you see the terminal, just keep going past it. You will see the entrance to the park.