Desirey Benavides

Desirey Benavides grew up in Lakewood. She joined the military in 1979. She transitioned from male to female after her second marriage and currently raises foster children with her wife. She works for the postal service. She is a past empress for the imperial court system, and spoke about transgender issues at Santa Ana College and Cal State Long Beach.

Interview Location: Palm Springs, California

Date: May 17th, 2017 | Interviewer: Rebecca Scofield

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What is special about gay rodeo?

[...] I think mostly our camp events is geared for us, and it does, I think a lot of the spectators get a lot out of it. [...] And you know, girls get to compete at some of the same stuff guys get to compete in, steer riding... bull riding, chute dogging, you don't ever see a girl competing in throwing down a steer, you don't see it. But, in our rodeo, whatever the guys do, the girls can do it. Have at it, if you want, if you're game to do it then do it. [...]

-Desirey Benavides

How did you find gay rodeo?

In '99 is when I became a member. I didn't compete back then, I was still in the court system, pretty heavily in the court system. [...] When I got the bug, somebody had asked me they needed a girl for wild drag.

-Desirey Benavides

Have you ever been physically injured?

[...] I've been laid out in the area, at Santa Fe Springs I was laid out for a few minutes, had the wind knocked out of me, from a steer stepping on me. [...]

-Desirey Benavides

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