If you thought country was only for straight cowboys tipping dusty hats, think again, sugar, because queer line-dancing culture is bucking back into town with a rhinestone twinkle in its eye.
At the center of this revival is Sean Monaghan and his project Stud Country, a roving line-dancing event where LGBTQ+ folks can two-step without worrying about bumping into judgmental stares—or worse, red hats.
Western imagery has always carried a certain homoerotic charge, from Hollywood classics like Red River with Montgomery Clift smoldering onscreen to modern queer cowboy epics like Brokeback Mountain and The Power of the Dog.
But in today’s pop landscape, it’s Lil Nas X breaking records with “Old Town Road,” Orville Peck crooning behind his fringe mask, and Beyoncé dropping Cowboy Carter that’s making Western culture pop again with a queer twist.
Meanwhile, our friends in queer nightlife never really let the cowboy boots gather dust—Western bars like Oil Can Harry’s were once safe havens, and line-dancing has long been a gay pastime from Los Angeles to Texas.
Monaghan calls his events “Church,” because for many, dancing in boots with your chosen family feels more spiritual than Sunday service ever did.
And if you’re nodding along thinking about another cowboy icon who’s been spilling tea and singing raunchy duets, you’re right on track—Orville Peck gave us just that in a recent sit-down. Read about his cheeky side here.
What’s fabulous is how Stud Country reminds us that country music and queer identity aren’t contradictions—they’re both about storytelling, survival, and a little bit of swagger.
And darling, let’s be clear: gay cowboys aren’t a new invention, they’ve been part of the rodeo all along, quietly boot-scooting while straight culture claimed the spotlight.
Now they’re dancing front and center, Stetsons high, making sure nobody forgets whose hips make the two-step sizzle.
If you still need convincing that this revival is more than a trend, let another ride through our archives sway you—because Orville Peck and Willie Nelson once teamed up to remind us that cowboys and Pride go hand in hand. Take a look at that joyful country moment. 😉