Interview: A Glimpse into my speaking style/story

A New Article Written about my Work

I’m pleased with the story these college students composed about my story:

http://www.newsnetnebraska.org/nnn/transgender-activist-seeks-acceptance-for-his-community/

 

The wonderful, yet scary, world of self-employment

Last week was life altering for me, I left my full-time employment of six years (with benefits) to move into the world of self-employment. I love speaking, training and consulting and I also love to travel, so I felt it was time to let the universe tell me if organizations and colleges will stay interested in the knowledge and experiences that I have to offer. With this move, I’ve updated this blog to give everyone more details on services that I have to offer.

If you could do anything, what would you do?

The holidays are here. The weather is cold and isolating and the depression may start to rise along with the self doubt, which is why I decided to post this little exercise.

Life is about the journey, the challenges, the joys, the sadness and the reflection. I have found the more that I look at life through the lens of continually moving forward and keeping a focus on the goals that I have, I experience less fear.

I know that all of us who identify as transgender are at different places as far as finances, careers, health, support, and shelter so I want to be careful with how I frame my next thoughts because my background has given me privileges that others will never experience, BUT I’m wondering, if we all stay focused and driven what our outcomes in life would be.

If I could do anything, I’d open up a LGBT health center in the town I live and then travel around to other communities where I could also help them set up systems of diverse care and services. If I could do anything I’d travel to high schools to work with kids on bullying. I’d travel to Universities to share my story and spend time with the students that also identify as LGBTQ. I’d set up day workshops with communities of professionals seeking to learn more about LGBT care, eating disorders and body image in relation to sexuality. I’d get my book published, travel around to independent bookstores where I’d do readings and sign newly bought copies. I’d start life/transition coaching, helping people with their struggles and behaviors they seek to change. I’d start working with producers and doing more documentaries that peer into the various lives and experiences in the transgender community. And I’d travel internationally where I could be immersed in other cultures leaving me the outsider, the stranger, but also the guest.

What would your list be?

I look at my list and I think, I can do all of these things, and I will. Just like my transition, I’m letting go of fear and trusting in myself.

Keep safe this holiday season and give yourself the love that you deserve. Sometimes the greatest love we experience is what we give to ourselves.

Okay, so maybe my story is more compelling than YouTube Videos

I was able to spend an hour with high school students today where I focused on bullying against LGBT kids and language we use, focusing primarily on the term “gay” or phrase “that’s so gay.” During my talk I showed videos from youtube and found that I wasn’t reaching all students, at the end of the talk I put a slide up with images from my appearances on Larry King Live! and the Logo documentary, Gender Rebel and then talked about my own experience being bullied in school and the lack of support I felt from family related to my gender expression. I talked about being targeted by Fred Phelps and his clan/clut and then said that the best thing I ever did was quit listening to what others said about me, and fully embraced all components of me. I saw kids who weren’t making eye contact with me before ears perk up and really tune in on what I had to say. I’ve always used my transition story when talking about medical issues and while working with college students, but I learned today that high school kids also take an interests in my personal story and respect me. This experience is going to make me think of new ways to do outreach with high school students where I can address bullying and respecting ourselves no matter what negativity we feel from others. What a great experience.

It Gets Better

I woke up at 5:30 this morning to begin crafting a talk I’m doing for 60 high school students surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. I have 45 minutes with the kids and am raking my brain as to what will be the most effective. In the past, I went through the various identities, theories, and civil right issues, but I noticed that a lot of the students squirmed in their seats, pulled hoodies over their heads or kept looking away from me. I decided pretty quickly that I wasn’t reaching them, so I sat and pondered…what do students respond to….hmmmm, which is when a light bulb turned on above my head…YouTube! So today I’m going to focus on bullying with the help of videos, It Gets Better, Think Before you Speak, and Glee….I’m realizing more and more that YouTube is much more appealing to high schoolers than I am.

The one thing I’m not sure about, is whether to out myself and share a bit of my personal experiences of bullying as a kid. I typically stay away from sharing my identity in high school crowds, but will it help? I have one more hour before I spend some time with this high school, I’ll let you know what I discover.

Who is Ryan Sallans, and why should you care?

Hello to everyone in the blogging world and those seeking information from visiting these sites. I’ve branched out from my regular website: http://www.ryansallans.com and my old journal, Induced Ramblings, so that I can try to reach more individuals surrounding issues of transgender health care, equality, and current events.

I’ve been an out, transman since the beginning of my transition in 2005. I began my public life in the LOGO documentary, Gender Rebel, and then moved into a wider audience viewership when I appeared on Larry King Live! in 2007 and 2009. I’ve also been featured in magazines around the world (minus the US) in a story that featured me talking about my struggle with an eating disorder.

Besides these media appearances, I’ve traveled (and still am traveling) the nation where I speak to professionals, college audiences, and youth about what life is like being transgender and how health care is changing.

This blog will keep you connected with where I’m going, what issues I’m working on, and hopefully how you can get a hold of me to speak at one of your upcoming events.

I hope we can all stay connected and perhaps meet in the future.

Ryan