International Gay Polo Tournament

The cork was popped and champagne soaked the stage at the 8th Annual International Gay Polo Tournament, presented by Palm Beach County Human Rights Council on Saturday, April 8. Dresses, tiaras, British flags and laughter filled the podium as Ben Deaton presented the Best in Show award to the winner of the annual tailgate competition, Kevin Clark’s “God Save the Queens.”  

 

The Gay Polo League (GPL) has hosted a bigger and better tournament every year since its inaugural event in 2010. This year, more than 60 tailgates lined the field at the iconic International Polo Club – Isla Carroll Field West to vie for the coveted Best In Show Award. 

 

With more inventive and original themes than ever before, tailgate judges Ron Neal, Ben and Alex Deaton, Andrew Tripp, Kalin Payne, Caroline Moran and Todd Jenard formed the Tailgate Judges committee and visited every tailgate to make their final decisions on which tailgates would win awards this year. 

 

The seven judges were tasked with selecting one tailgate to win Best in Show, and honoring four other groups in a category of their choice. This proved to be difficult as each tailgate was beautifully art directed to create a particular theme with costumes, presentation, props, food and drinks.

 

Nevertheless, after several hours of touring the tailgates, winners were chosen.

 

Kevin Clark’s “God Save the Queens” won the coveted Best in Show award. The tailgate was a true masterpiece draped in British flags, colors and crowns. With a double-decker bus, elegant furniture and themed cuisine, the tailgate won in a unanimous vote.  

Best Team Spirit was presented to Tim Minerd’s “Gamma Alpha Upsilon”. The energetic fraternity created a flamboyance of pink flamingos shaded by a large rainbow flag, which they proudly carried onto the stage with them to collect their award.

Tim Minerd’s “Gamma Alpha Upsilon” won the award for Best Spirit.

 

Most Original Tailgate award went to “Grey Gardens”, a living, breathing tailgate starring the world famous Gert Crawford and Bill Doyle. The two actors stayed in character for the entire day reenacting scenes from the original documentary, Grey Gardens, in front of massive cheering and applauding fans.

Bill & Gert’s “Grey Gardens” won for Most Original Theme.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s tailgate attracted one of the biggest crowds of the day. The shirtless male model dressed as a lampshade attracted admiring spectators, yet it was the lavish cuisine they offered that earned them the accolade of Best Food.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek won for Best Food.

Tesla won the Best Spirit award.

 

GPL is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and hosted this annual event to focus on raising awareness and funds to help put an end to the homelessness crisis among the LGBTQ youth and to create scholarships for LGBTQ youth seeking a higher education.

8th Annual International Gay Polo Tournament Fast Facts

3667 120th Ave South

Tickets: gaypolo.com/tickets