Moving To Tumblr

Starting now, I’m abandoning this Blogger blog in favor of a new Tumblr. If you’ve subscribed to me over RSS (or Feedburner), you’ll be transferred to the new blog automatically.

If you’re following via email subscription, Blogger, or Networked Blogs, this will be the last post you see. Don't let that happen.

The best way to keep in touch with me moving forward is by subscribing on Feedburner or following me on Tumblr.

I’m still also all over Twitter at @RyanNewYork.

Thanks for reading.

My Speech At 2011 Broadway Beauty Pageant

My remarks from Monday, March 21st.

"It’s great to be back for our fifth year and we’re already looking ahead to 2012. I’d like to thank the literally hundreds of people who have helped make this event an annual reality.

Before I bring on Carl to tell you more about the outstanding work done by The Ali Forney Center, I wanted to say a few words on a fairly dry subject, The New York State Budget.

In 1984 New York Governor Mario Cuomo, in his famous keynote address to the Democratic National Convention, spoke of a tale of two cities. In one city, people were doing well and in another “people slept on the city streets,” while the youth slipped into hopelessness.

I’d invite the current Gov. Cuomo to read his father’s speech and learn from it. His latest budget guts funding to homeless organizations, like the one we’re supporting tonight.

When the first Gov. Cuomo spoke that the “struggle to live with dignity is the real story of this city,” he was talking about the youth who benefit from The Ali Forney Center.

Here to tell you more about those young people, it’s my honor to introduce my friend and hero Carl Siciliano."

Live Tweeting Your Event

Below is an article I wrote that was published on the Blue State Digital blog this week.

Attend a conference these days and you’re likely to find a bigger conversation about the keynote speaker online than in the lobby.

And I’m not just talking about SXSW or a techie expo. In the past five years, there’s been an explosion in real-time coverage of all sorts of events via Facebook, blogs, and, most important, Twitter. Last fall, for example, the Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly inspired nearly 6,000 tweets, covering everything from official announcements to follow-up discussions.

But quality online discourse via social media isn’t an automatic phenomenon. It will require some planning and legwork, of course, but here are some tips to help you pull off a great Twitter presence at your next event.

Click here for my five tips.

Win Tickets To Driving Miss Daisy

1/27 5:30PM Update: Thanks to everyone who entered. The contest is now closed. I'll announce the winner later tonight!

I'm seeing Driving Miss Daisy on Monday, February 7th. It's a special benefit performance for The Actor's Fund, "a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition."

I'm looking forward to seeing James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave together on stage.

Today over Twitter, I'm giving away a pair of tickets to Monday, February 7th's special performance.

To enter to win, all you need to do is Tweet between 10am and 5pm: "Enter to win a pair of tickets to see @theactorsfund's benefit perf of @DaisyOnBroadway, via @RyanNewYork at http://ryanjdavis.blogspot.com"

I'll draw and announce the winner late tonight. More information on the show below. Remember, if you don't win, you can still buy tickets here. It's a great cause.

From the press release:

The Broadway company of "Driving Miss Daisy" has announced that their Special Benefit Performance for The Actors Fund will be dedicated to the memory of Lynn and Corin Redgrave. The benefit performance is scheduled for Monday, February 7 at 8pm. All proceeds will go to The Actors Fund.
...

"Driving Miss Daisy" stars James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave and Boyd Gaines. The performance will be at the Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street in New York City. Premium seating is available for $226.50 and regular seats from $66.50 to $126.50.

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.store.actorsfund.org, call 212.221.7300 ext. 133, or email tickets@actorsfund.org. Tickets can also be purchased at www.telecharge.com or through the Golden Theatre box office.

About The Actors Fund

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone – performers and those behind the scenes – who works in performing arts and entertainment, helping nearly 12,000 people directly each year, and hundreds of thousands online. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund's programs include social services and emergency assistance, health care and insurance, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has – for over 125 years – been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

the3six5

On November 22nd I participated in the3six5, 365 different bloggers each covering a day of their lives. Lots of interesting perspectives. My post is below.

On my way to work this morning in the Flatiron District, I noticed that a section of Broadway was closed off and covered in snow. Snow covering the ground when it’s fifty-five degrees out isn’t the first thing you expect to see, but getting off the train this morning the ice greeted me. It took me a minute or two before I saw the cameras and realized it was some kind of film shoot. Tourists were more confused than I was, which always makes me smile. I’m always happy to get what’s going on before those around me. The existence of tourists means this can happen quite often.

Read my full post at the3six5.

Brooklyn Tornado

What was probably a tornado hit Brooklyn tonight. Below are a few pictures from my extended walk home from the L train. I had to get off early because of how slow it was running. Lots of fallen trees and signs blown over. Certainly something I haven't seen much of in New York before.

There are very few actual tornadoes recorded in New York City. The strongest was in 2007.

Update: An amazing video someone took from their roof. Go citizen journalism.

Southern Decadence 2010

We had a great time this weekend in New Orleans at Southern Decadence. I love the city and the addition of around 100,000 gays makes it even more fun.

Below are some pictures from the trip, ranging from some anti-gay protesters to Truman Capote's early residence. If you can't view them, just visit the Facebook album.

The local news has more on the protesters.

The Secret Court

In 1920, a group of students were expelled from Harvard University during an anti-gay witch hunt, known as The Harvard Secret Court. Many of their lives were ruined, but all of their trajectories were changed forever.

I'm excited to be directing & co-producing Veritas, a play based on those real-life events, at The 2010 New York International Fringe Festival. Our performances begin in mid-August, but we need your help to get this production on its feet now.

For $100 or more, you will receive two VIP tickets to any performance of Veritas at the Fringe. You can get your tickets before they go on sale AND have the best seats in the house. Another bonus: $60 of your $100 is tax deductible.

http://www.veritastheplay.com/please-support-veritas/

The story of Veritas is timely and the cast features some of Broadway's best young actors. Our benefit reading last month attracted so many theatergoers that we had to add extra seating for the sell-out crowd. You don't want to be turned away this year at the Fringe, when you can reserve two VIP seats now.

http://www.veritastheplay.com/please-support-veritas/

Even if you don’t want premium seats in advance, we are grateful for any tax deductible donation you can make. Whether it’s $5, $10 or $20, your generosity will have a significant impact on the success of Veritas and sharing this important story.

Thanks for all your support,

--
Ryan J. Davis
Director & Co-Producer, Veritas
http://www.veritastheplay.com/

Photo from May 2010 reading cast.

Gay Youth Homeless Shelter Vandalized

On Wednesday night, a gay youth homeless shelter was vandalized with anti-gay graffiti that read; "We don't want gay people here."

The shelter, located in Queens, is operated by New York City's Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest organization serving homeless LGBT youth. "Gay shelter" was also scrawled on the building's door.

"I am infuriated that someone would target our kids in this cowardly way" says Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center. "The young people who come to us for help and shelter have already experienced terrible hardship, and I will not stand for them to be further abused." (In April, I interviewed Siciliano on my Gay History: Uncut podcast on the gay homeless situation in New York.)

Community leaders and police have responded and an investigation is in the works.

On Monday at 6:30, thousands will rally in Union Square to protect homeless LGBT youth. While this rally was planned before last night's bigoted, cowardly vandalism, it's only made more vital because of it.

Speakers include Sandra Bernhard & Lt. Dan Choi and the rally has been endorsed by dozens of human rights and LGBT organizations and individuals.

I hope I'll see some of you on Monday night. Showing that there is visible support for this issue is important, because as many as 40% of the homeless youth in the United States are LGBT. That's hundreds of thousands of young people.


Originally posted on The Huffington Post.

June 14th - Rally in Support of LGBT Homeless Youth

I'm helping to organize a big rally next Monday, June 14th in support of LGBT homeless Youth. I'm working closely with The Ali Forney Center, the organization that the Broadway Beauty Pageant benefits. The full press release is pasted below. Please RSVP & share the Facebook event. Hope to see you all there.

On Monday, June 14th at 6:30PM, numerous prominent LGBT and progressive leaders and organizations will come together at a highly anticipated rally at Union Square in support of the LGBT Homeless Youth community. (A list of endorsers can be seen below).

As LGBT youth find the courage to come out of the closet at younger ages, thousands are being rejected by their families and forced out of their homes. Most homeless LGBT youth describe having suffered violence and harassment in their homes due to their sexual orientations and gender identities. As many as 40% of the homeless youth in the United States are LGBT. Homeless LGBT youth are subjected to violence and harassment on the streets and in mainstream youth shelters. They face tremendous risk of HIV infection, drug addiction, and criminalization.

This phenomenon of thousands of LGBT youth being forced from their homes due to homophobia, stripped of economic support, and made to endure homelessness represents the most terrible cruelty and intolerance currently directed at the LGBT community. Any community has an obligation to protect its youth when they are being hurt and attacked. We call on the LGBT Community to stand up for our youth suffering on the streets, and advocate that they receive the protection and care that all young people need and deserve.

We call on the members of the LGBT Community, our straight allies, and on all decent people who believe that youths should not be thrown to the streets for being LGBT, to rally in support of the following goals:

• To show solidarity with homeless LGBT youth, to demonstrate outrage that so many young members of our community face family rejection, violence, and homelessness, and to call on the adult members of the LGBT and allied community to demonstrate increased concern, support and advocacy for our youth.
• To advocate that local, state, and federal government funding be made available to provide the housing and supportive services needed by homeless LGBT youth so they can escape the streets, and that efforts be funded to prevent LGBT youth from being subjected to violence and rejection in their homes.
• To advocate that protecting our youth from abuse, rejection, and homelessness be recognized as a major priority in our local and national LGBT advocacy agendas.

The rally is endorsed by many significant local and national community organizations, including: Ali Forney Center, Broadway Impact, Broadway Speaks Out, Bronx Community Pride Center, The Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, The Center for Anti-violence Education, Chris Ryan NYC, CitizeNYC, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, The Door, Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, FIERCE, Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats (GLID), Gay Men of African Descent, GLSEN, GMHC, GetEQUAL, Green Chimneys Children's Services, HetRick Martin Institute, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Integrity NYC, The LGBT Community Center, Make The Road New York, Manhattan Young Democrats, National Youth Advocacy Coalition, New York City Anti-Violence Project, New York AIDS Coalition (NYAC), The NYC Association of Homeless and Street-Involved Youth Organizations, Out Astoria, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays National, Safe Space NYC and Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City.

Additionally, the rally is also endorsed by many prominent community leaders, including: US Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY, Carl Siciliano, Sandra Bernhard, Lt. Dan Choi, Joe Jervis, Brendan Fay, NYC Council Member Lewis Fidler, Ryan J. Davis, Ally Sheedy, Cathy Renna, Reverend Irene Monroe, Peter Staley, David Mixner, Yetta Kurland, NYS Assemblymember Micah Kellner, U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), David Badash, Kai Wright, Rod McCullom, Sassafras Lowrey, Editor of "Kicked Out", NYS Senator Tom Duane, NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, and NYC Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer.

For more information, visit the AFC website.

Win Tickets To The Broadway Beauty Pageant!

Contest over, congrats @StevenCirillo on winning a pair of tickets. Remember - If you don't win, you can still buy great $25 tickets using the discount code RAC102 by clicking here.

The pageant is coming up on Monday and I'm giving a pair of tickets away today on Twitter!

To enter to win, all you need to do is Tweet; "Just entered to win a pair of tickets to see Broadway Beauty Pageant, via @RyanNewYork at http://ryanjdavis.blogspot.com." I'll draw and announce the winners late tonight. Please be in the New York City area.

If you don't win, you can buy great $25 tickets using the discount code RAC102 by clicking here.

Gay History Uncut: LGBT Gay Homelessness & Ali Forney Center

Last week, I sat down with Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of NYC’s Ali Forney Center, to talk about the problem of LGBT youth homelessness and how AFC helps.

I’m directing The Broadway Beauty Pageant, an annual benefit for AFC in New York City on Monday, April 19th. It’s always a great night, for more details click here.

Listen to the podcast below, or click here to subscribe free on iTunes.

Tonight - Broadway Speaks Out

I'm a guest on the Broadway Speaks Out internet show tonight at 10PM EST. You can watch below or here.


BroadwaySpeaksOUT- Broadcast your self LIVE

Broadway Beauty Pageant Judges Announced!

We've got three great judges at this year's Broadway Beauty Pageant. Get your tickets now, it's on April 19th!

Via Playbill:

Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole, Charles Busch and Jackie Hoffman will serve as judges for the The Broadway Beauty Pageant, which will be held April 19 at Symphony Space.

As previously reported, Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh (Irena's Vow, Golda's Balcony) returns to host the 8 PM event for the third year in a row.

The fundraiser was conceived by Jeffery Self and will be directed by Ryan J. Davis. The Broadway Beauty Pageant benefits New York’s Ali Forney Center.

Watch Me Saturday AM On-Line at CBS

I'll be on CBS News' Backstage at The Early Show tomorrow (Saturday) morning from 9AM-9:20AM. I'll be talking about Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the latest on the ever-growing Catholic Priest scandal. You can tune in on-line only here, or watch below. If you're in the chat room, try and say nice things about me.

Gay History Uncut: Harry Hay & The Temperamentals

Over the weekend I sat down with Jon Marans, author of The Temperamentals, which is currently playing Off-Broadway. We had a great conversation about Harry Hay and the founding of the early gay rights movement in America.

We both recommend reading Stuart Timmons' Trouble With Harry Hay for more information.

Listen below, or subscribe on iTunes. If you missed our first episode on the 1920s Harvard Secret Court, listen here.

Thanks to Veritable Virgo for making me the great podcoast logo!

CitizeNYC Podcast #13

Posting Two Beers In, the podcast I co-host, a few days late. I've been busy! Text from CitizeNYC.

Two Beers In! Taxing Soda, Ravitch's Budget Plan, and Yank, A Love Story

On this week's episode of New York's political talk show, hosts Ryan J. Davis and Greg Palmer discuss Ravitch's new budget plan, taxing soda, Mayor Bloomberg's public health efforts, and Yank The Musical.

Listen online right here!

We start with Lt. Governor Ravitch's plan to fix New York's longstanding budget problems and why legislators need to learn to do their jobs or face our wrath in this fall's elections. We wonder if the state is insolvent and when we're getting our tax returns, and we talk about how the state can generate more revenue.

Ryan thinks we should raise taxes, while Greg says we're already one of the highest taxed states in the country, but we agree that the proposed soda tax is a good idea. Unfortunately, Governor Paterson has gotten behind it, which probably means it's dead on arrival.

Which brings us to Mayor Bloomberg's public health efforts and why a soda tax needs to be partnered with hardcore nutritional education for parents throughout the city. Some kids' best meals are coming from their schools, where the food actually looks like food... unlike a lot of other school cafeterias across the country.

Ryan stops by Yank, a musical love story set in World War II, and thinks we should all go to Monday's equality rally in Brooklyn in response to the vicious gay-bashing that occurred in Carroll Gardens earlier this month. It'd also be a nice gesture to show some support for the 9 year old kid whose teacher taunted him as being "gay."

Coming up next week, loads more fun and a review of the Whitney Biennial. In the meantime, you can subscribe on iTunes and use Facebook Connect to discuss topics from this week's episode below!

CitizeNYC Podcast #12

Greg Palmer and I's new episode of our weekly podcast Two Beers In went up tonight. It's a really good episode. Listen below, more details from CitizeNYC:

On this week's Two Beers In, we talk about Project Runway, some great new theatre, the MTA's latest proposal to cut service, and what's happening in NYC's public schools.

On Runway this week, trash bags became amazing leather pants, keys became a glamorous necklace, and other items from the hardware store became disasters. (Hope that's not too much of a spoiler!) Ryan and I went to see The Temperamentals, a fantastic play starring Ugly Betty's Michael Urie. It's about the rise of the pre-Stonewall gay right movement in 1950's Los Angeles and is playing at New World Stages in Hell's Kitchen.

Back in the world of policy, we discuss the MTA's latest plan to cut service, which has everyone up in arms - except for our friends in Williamsburg in Bushwick, who would see expanded V train service under the new plan. But student Metrocards go back on the chopping block, and we talk about the economics and the necessity of getting students to school.

And - always a hot topic for us - trying to innovate in the city's public schools to provide every child with a good education. It's good for the kids, and good for the future of our city.

Listen on iTunes, and be sure to check out last week's episode about Governor Paterson's fall from grace.

Mr. Broadway 2010!

It's hard to believe that it's almost time for 2010's Broadway Beauty Pageant, pitting Broadway's hottest guys against each other to benefit The Ali Forney Center. It's an old fashioned beauty pageant with an American Idol twist.

We've just announced that the always marvelous Tovah Feldshuh will return to host for the third time. Announcements on contestants and judges are coming up, it's gonna be a great group!

Get your tickets now, starting at just $25.

This is the forth year that I've co-produced the show with my friends Jeffery Self & Wil Fisher. But, every year the pageant grows and more and more people join to help us make the night a huge success. I'm thankful to all of them!

V Train to Bushwick & Williamsburg

The MTA is in the process of making some very steep cuts to subway service. But one change will actually benefit residents (I'm one) of Williamsburg & Bushwick, two growing Brooklyn hipster neighborhoods.

Plans to scrap the M train and extend the V train will finally give us a direct route into Manhattan. The M barely went anywhere, but our new V would go everywhere. If this happens, the rate of development will surge around the new V line.

This map shows the proposed new route.

Via CitizeNYC.