Ryan Jamaal Swain
Award-Winning Actor, Activist & Author
Ryan Jamaal Swain
Award-Winning Actor, Activist & Author
Biography
Ryan Jamaal Swain is an award-winning actor and activist. Most notably, he was the breakout star of FX’s award-winning show Pose, which was internationally and critically praised for its authentic and skillful portrayal of queer and trans life on television. In it, he portrayed Damon Richards Evangelista, an ambitious dancer who, after being kicked out of his home for being gay, finds belonging within New York City’s ‘80s-era queer ballroom scene.
That story of resilience and chosen family is not just one he portrayed on screen—it is one he has lived. Known for his inspiring “rags to riches” journey of arriving in New York City with only $50 and a dream, Ryan’s path mirrors the determination, vulnerability, and courage of Damon Richards, blurring the line between performance and personal truth.
Following the success of Pose, Ryan has been seen in the television series The First Lady opposite Viola Davis, on Broadway in Choir Boy, and on numerous Off-Broadway stages.
As an activist, Ryan was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list for his LGBTQIA+ work on and off the screen. In addition, he has received honors from the Human Rights Campaign, Howard University, TrevorLIVE, and TV One, where he delivered a powerful acceptance speech on his intersections of being Black, Millennial, and Queer.
Ryan also takes pride in being a Stonewall Inn Ambassador. In his efforts to deepen his commitment to protecting and uplifting young Queer people, he created a national campaign with the It Gets Better Foundation titled #48HoursOfLove, sharing uplifting messages of hope, empowerment, and support to LGBTQIA+ students during the stressful back-to-school season across the country.
Ryan has also been featured in numerous publications including Vogue, Nylon Germany, GQ, The New York Times, Forbes, and WWD for his fashion advocacy and commitment to Queer visibility.
As a writer, Ryan wrote and starred in A Negro Writer, a one-man show about Langston Hughes and his public and private life. He is currently writing a teen fiction novel loosely based on his own coming-of-age story.
Ryan’s passion for performing began at an early age in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where he started tap lessons at age four and quickly expanded to ballet, jazz, modern, and hip hop. He later attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts and became a first-generation college graduate, earning a B.F.A. from Howard University. He also trained at the British American Drama Academy in conjunction with the Yale School of Drama in Oxford, U.K.
Drawing on his journey as an actor, activist, and storyteller, Ryan speaks with universities, organizations, and communities about identity, resilience, and finding purpose. Through personal storytelling and lived experience, he encourages audiences to embrace their uniqueness, cultivate their voice, and find strength in adversity. Ryan Jamaal Swain works in partnership with APB Speakers for speaking engagements worldwide.
Ryan’s message centers on overcoming odds, giving back to others, and using one’s story as a source of power and connection.
Speaker Videos
The Importance of Chosen Family | It Gets Better Project
Ryan Jamaal Swain Receives HRC's Visibility Award
On Pose | AM to DM BuzzFeed News
Ryan Jamaal Swain Reads Encouraging Letters To LGBTQ+ Students: 48 Hours Of Love
Positive Voices S2E17 - Ryan Jamaal Swain and Activism in Hollywood
Speech Topics
The Power of the Pivot: Turning Life’s Hardest Moments into Purpose
Success can change your life—but so can loss. Ryan Jamaal Swain shares a deeply personal story of rising from humble beginnings to becoming a breakout star on FX’s Pose, only to have everything shift during the show’s final season with the tragic loss of his sister. In the face of overwhelming grief, Swain made the difficult decision to step away from his career and choose healing over momentum. Through raw storytelling and honest reflection, he explores what it means to pivot when life does not go as planned and how those moments can redefine purpose. His message is both grounding and empowering: sometimes the strongest move you can make is to pause, reset, and choose yourself.
Audiences will learn:
How to navigate grief, uncertainty, and unexpected life changes with intention
Why choosing to pause, pivot, and heal is a powerful act of strength
Practical tools for building resilience and moving forward with purpose
Moving Forward Through Adversity: Finding Light When Life Feels Uncertain
What does it look like to keep going when nothing feels certain? Ryan Jamaal Swain shares a raw and deeply personal journey of leaving Alabama for New York City with just $50 and little support, stepping into rejection, uncertainty, and moments that could have pulled him back. This is not a story about having it all figured out, but about choosing to move forward anyway. Swain reflects on sitting in darkness while still believing, even quietly, that something more is possible, taking small but meaningful risks through grief, loss, and self-doubt. Along the way, he found glimpses of light through purpose, creative expression, and the people who showed up when he needed it most. Drawing from both his lived experience and his breakout role in Pose, he reminds audiences that progress is not always visible—but step by step, it becomes a path.
Audiences will learn:
How to keep moving forward through uncertainty, setbacks, and self-doubt
Why progress is built through small, consistent steps
How purpose, creativity, and community can guide personal growth
Art as Activism: How Storytelling Shapes Culture and Sparks Change
At a time when the world feels increasingly divided, storytelling remains one of our most powerful tools for connection, understanding, and change. Ryan Jamaal Swain invites audiences to explore film and television not just as entertainment, but as living laboratories for activism—spaces where culture is challenged, identities are affirmed, and new possibilities are imagined. Drawing from his experience on Pose, Ryan reflects on the responsibility of telling stories that shift narratives and expand visibility, while also examining defining moments in media that have pushed conversations forward. Through case studies like Black-ish, Crazy Rich Asians, and Heated Rivalry, he reveals how the arts influence public dialogue, shape perception, and move society toward greater empathy and equity. Grounded in both personal experience and cultural analysis, this talk makes a compelling case that in even the most difficult moments, the arts help us see a path forward—and remind us of what’s possible.
Audiences will learn:
How film and television function as catalysts for social change
What makes storytelling resonate across cultures and communities
Why representation in media continues to shape real-world progress
Intersectionality in Action: Owning Your Identity & Reclaiming Your Power
Identity is not something to overcome—it is something to lead with. Ryan Jamaal Swain unpacks what it means to navigate the world through multiple intersecting identities and turn those experiences into strength. As a Black, millennial, queer artist raised in the conservative South, he learned early how to survive in spaces that did not always affirm who he was. Toughened by those experiences, Swain began to understand how his “otherness” could become his greatest advantage. Through honest storytelling and practical insight, he shares how he built boundaries, developed self-trust, and created his own roadmap for success. This talk challenges audiences to stop shrinking and start owning every part of who they are.
Audiences will learn:
How intersecting identities shape resilience and perspective
Why authenticity is a powerful driver of confidence and success
Practical tools for setting boundaries and defining success
Don’t Just Accept: How to Show Up, Speak Up & Build Real Allyship
Allyship is not a label—it is a responsibility. Ryan Jamaal Swain pushes audiences to move beyond passive support and into meaningful action when it comes to building inclusive communities. While progress has been made, many people still face bias, exclusion, and harm in everyday life and the workplace. Swain reframes allyship as a daily practice rooted in courage, accountability, and consistency, showing how it shows up in real moments—especially the uncomfortable ones. Through lived experience and actionable guidance, he equips audiences with the mindset and tools to actively shape more inclusive environments.
Audiences will learn:
What it means to move from awareness to action as an ally
How to show up in difficult moments with courage and accountability
Practical ways to create inclusive environments through everyday actions
Testimonials
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