For two decades, Ryan Basham has been a thought leader in politics, media, and culture. He advised President Bidenās 2020 campaign, directed political programming on the queer news and music network CHANNEL Q, founded Stonewall Network to foster LGBTQ+ grassroots organizations, and worked with the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund to elect out political candidates.
In the new Trump era, however, āadvocacy has become more dangerous,ā the gay activist notes. Heās now fighting oppression in a different way ā by touring the country as a stand-up comic. āPerforming has reminded me that laughter isnāt just an escape ā itās light in the dark, and right now, we all need more of it,ā he says.
The seasoned strategist wants to remind LGBTQ+ people āto find each other, not fight each other. We are a diverse coalition with an infinite number of lived experiences and challenges. But something my activist friends and I have learned is that when oppressed groups get caught up in who has it worse, the only party that wins is the oppressor. There are too few of us to not be generous with our grace.ā @ryanbasham
