We’re so looking forward to our November NYC event, returning to the Queers for Economic Justice space. Bios of our amazing storytellers below; don’t forget to RSVP on facebook.
Ryann Holmes
Amber Dawn
Nick Krieger
Dan Horrigan
Lea Robinson
RYANN HOLMES
Born in Washington, DC and raised in neighboring PG County, Maryland, Ryann Makenzi Holmes, is an entrepreneur, student and community organizer. After completing her undergrad in Business and Marketing at George Mason University, she is now completing her final semester of graduate work in Baruch College’s MBA program. From her innovative event planning work with the Women’s Sports Foundation to her dedicated work with Public Interest Projects and The Audre Lorde Project, Ryann is committed to a life lived with integrity.
Settling in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn just over 5 years ago, the city and its energy felt vibrant, artistic and inspiring—all traits that she continually seeks to embody in her personal and professional endeavors. As a founder of bklyn boihood she spends much of her time working on providing visibility and promoting the empowerment of masculine of center folks of color.
After the successful launch of their visionary 2010 calendar, Ryann has set her sights high, committing to the creative expansion of the collective through hosting opportunities for networking, substantial program development and using social innovation to empower individuals and community efforts on a local to global scale.
AMBER DAWN
Amber Dawn is a writer, filmmaker and performance artist based in Vancouver. She is the author of the novel Sub Rosa (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010), editor of the Lambda Award-nominated Fist of the Spider Woman (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2008) and co-editor of With a Rough Tongue: Femmes Write Porn (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2005). Her award-winning, genderfuck docu-porn, “Girl on Girl,” has been screened in eight countries and added to the gender studies curriculum at Concordia University. She has toured three times with the infamous Sex Workers’ Art Show. Currently, she is the director of programming for the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.
NICK KRIEGER
Nick Krieger is the author of the memoir NINA HERE NOR THERE: MY JOURNEY BEYOND GENDER, an exploration of the land between man and woman. Reviewers have called it “revolutionary,” “honest,” “funny,” “moving,” and “heartfelt.” Krieger’s writing has earned several travel-writing awards, has been published in multiple travel guides, and has appeared in numerous outlets, including 365gay, Original Plumbing, and the Advocate. A native of New York, Krieger realized at the age of twenty-one that he’d been born on the wrong coast, a malady he corrected by transitioning to San Francisco. He is passionate about activism through art, yoga, and queering all that he can. www.nickkrieger.com.
DAN HORRIGAN
Dan Horrigan got his start telling stories to anyone who would listen at bars and cocktail parties across New York. Dan is thrilled to be bringing his tales to a slightly more sober audience. Another incarnation of The Big A was produced in New York in February of 2010. In addition to being a writer / performer Dan is also a co-founder and Artistic Director of At Hand Theatre Company. At Hand is an independent, non profit theatre company in New York City that produces new plays while using eco-friendly practices. Dan likes to make you laugh and he likes trees and plays! He is proud to have produced Anton Dudley’s Letters to the End of the World, Mark Snyder’s Lila Cante, One Nation Under by Andrea Lepcio and 4 seasons of POP! Dan has directed At Hand’s productions of Cake And Plays Without The Cake by Jono Hustis, Silence! by Brian Dykstra and John Patrick Bray’s Trickster at the Gate. Last season, Dan was honored to have At Hand present his autobiographical solo show, MY AiDS. Other directing credits include Nicky Silver’s The Altruists (Access Theatre), Cindy Lou Johnson’s Brilliant Traces and PS Your Cat is Dead by James Kirkwood. Dan’s television appearances include Cash Cab, playing the role of Gay Guy In The Backseat With All The Wrong Answers (uncredited). He also appeared in Kathy Griffin’s My Life On The D-List playing Laughing Gay Guy in the 3rd Row At The WaMu Theatre (surprisingly, also uncredited). .
LEA ROBINSON
LEA ROBINSON is a multi-talented butch artist. NYC credits include ROOM FOR CREAM (Two-headed Calf/La MaMa), BUTCH MAMAS (WOW Café), The Bulldyke Chronicles (Dixon Place), and The Femme Show. She recently shared a bill with Elizabeth Whitney in the HOT! Festival at Dixon Place in SYRUP IN OUR SHORTS, AND OTHER SOUTHERN PLEASANTRIES, and she is currently working on a new solo show, YOU AIN’T SPECIAL. She also organized and emceed Boxers Off! An Evening of Butch Burlesque at Stonewall—a benefit for the upcoming Butch Voices Conference. She was featured in GO Magazine’s 2009 Edition of 100 Women We Love. www.learobinsonactor.com.
Queer Memoir 