@RyanNewYork
He sits on the Broad of Directors of The Ali Forney Center, where he is the founding producer of their annual Broadway Beauty Pageant fundraiser. He's also on the Board of Directors of The Deconstructive Theatre Project and the Board of Advisers of the startup TV Dinner.
He's also a director/producer, who lives in Brooklyn, NY and created the musical White Noise. Ryan writes about politics for The Huffington Post & The Hill. He has been a guest editor for Queerty and is the host of the podcast Gay History: Uncut.
Here Ryan blogs about politics, film, TV, history, religion, science, books, theater, digital media, LGBT issues, Bushwick & Williamsburg, New York City, and anything else he's interested in at the moment. Oh, and he'll probably talk a lot about himself.
This is a personal blog. Any opinions expressed here and on my Twitter represent my own and not those of my employer or clients.
I wrote the below op-ed for my hometown newspaper, Salisbury, MD’s The Daily Times.
On Tuesday, Marylanders have an opportunity to make history by voting for Question 6 and passing marriage equality by popular vote for the first time in our nation’s history. Supporters of marriage equality have lost 32 ballot initiatives in a row, but 2012 is the year we capture the momentum and win victories in four states — Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.
We’ve seen millions of dollars spent in sleazy, misleading ads by anti-equality groups looking to scare Marylanders about what marriage equality is and what Question 6 means. Don’t believe them, because it’s really as simple as equality, fairness and justice for all families.
Marriage equality shouldn’t be a political issue. If President Barack Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney both support a cause, you know it defies conventional politics. You can vote for Question 6 whether you consider yourself a progressive or a tea partier — or if you’re entirely apolitical.
Marriage equality is not a religious issue. Nobody will ever tell your pastor whom he or she has to marry. As many as noted, this is about rights, not rites; things that happen in a courthouse, not a church. You can vote for marriage equality without fear of any changes to your place of worship.
When I came out of the closet in 10th grade at James M. Bennett High School, I was the only openly gay student in the school.
I know my 15-year-old self would be astonished at the progress made in the last decade, but we’re not there yet. There are more than a thousand legal protections that straight married couples have but gay committed couples do not have access to; that’s not fair. I know the Eastern Shore and its residents believe in fairness.
Gay people are your neighbors, your friends, your family and your colleagues. They deserve access to the same rights for their families as you have for yours.
Polls overwhelmingly show that young people support marriage equality — by huge margins. Maryland has an opportunity to stand on the right side of history.
I, for one, hope it does.
Ryan Davis was born and raised in Salisbury. He is a cofounder of TheFour.com and a contributor to Marylanders For Marriage Equality. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
One problem with ballot initiatives is that sometimes the language can confuse the voter. We’ve put together this graphic to let voters know how to support marriage equality in their state.
Please share and visit us at The Four 2012 for daily content until election day.
(via thefour2012)
My home state of Maryland is lucky to have such a strong supporter of marriage equality in our Governor, Martin O’Malley. I’ve been a fan of his for years, since his days as Mayor of Baltimore. Big future for this guy. Plus, he inspired The Wire’s Carcetti and that’s pretty cool.
More daily at TheFour.com.
(via thefour2012)
In 50 days, America goes to the polls to reelect Barack Obama and support the four states with marriage equality on their ballots.
In 50 days, 4 states will vote on marriage equality. Share to spread the word.
Get involved with Mainers United for Marriage, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, Minnesotans United for All Families and Washington United for Marriage.Get daily content at TheFour.com.
Please share this Facebook Cover Photo that our organization The Four 2012 created to remind people of the four states with marriage equality on the ballot in November. You can get it on Facebook here.
Please reblog and use our Facebook Cover Photo to remind your friends and family of the four states with gay marriage on the ballots in November. Help us get out the vote!
Download the full sized photo on Facebook.
More content at TheFour.com.
I grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, so this vote has a lot of sentimental meaning to me. Growing up gay in a small town is hard and passing this law will make things a little easier.
This week in NYC, I’m cohosting a fundraiser with MD Gov. O’Malley and Speaker Quinn in support of Marylanders For Marriage Equality. Tickets start at just $75, get yours today and I hope to see you on Wednesday.
Marylanders, vote for marriage equality on Tuesday, November, 6th.
Get involved at Marylanders for Marriage Equality.
Something that I’m working on. Signup to learn more.
Thanks for helping me reach my personal fundraising goal of $500 for my mom’s St. Jude Children’s Hospital walk on Saturday!
My mom plans a fundraising walk for St. Jude Children’s Hospital each year and this year, I’ve pledged to raise $500 for her. So far, we’ve raised $252 dollars in 48 hours. We’ve got just 24 hours to close the gap.
The above is a picture of my mom and me, designed to soften you up for the donate ask.
Please donate now! The money goes to help kids with cancer and you’ll win points with my by supporting my mother.
Read an article on the walk below.
OCEAN CITY — Judy Davis knows firsthand what illness looks like.
A former school teacher, Davis was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia two decades ago. Recently married and with a 1-year-old son, Davis was told she had less than a 50-50 chance at survival.
Today, Davis’ health is stable, and she is fighting to make sure others won’t have to overcome the long odds and undergo the difficult treatments to earn the title of cancer survivor.
“As a retired teacher, I love children and hate to think of them ill,” Davis said. “My love for children has been the catalyst for the yearly Let’s Walk the Boards for St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Knowing what sickness looks like, I can’t imagine being the parent of a child with a serious disease.
Read the full article here.
My mom showed me this anti-gay marriage flyer over Skype that she received attending this morning’s mass. It’s from a group called Maryland Catholic Conference and it asks readers to call their local state senator, Jim Mathias in Ocean City, and ask him to support traditional marriage.
Near the end of mass, the priest invited the congregation to an upcoming rally to protect marriage. He made the invite right before the “go in peace to love and serve the Lord” part.
I’ve always felt bad for the gay kids, out or still in the closet, sitting with their parents and being forced to listen to such hurtful nonsense. I sort of remember being that kid.
