Ryan Cassata Explained

Ryan Cassata
Birth Date:1993 12, mf=yes
Birth Place:Stony Brook, New York, U.S.
Origin:Bay Shore, New York, U.S.
Spouse:Stephen Meeneghan (m. 2023)
Instrument:Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Keyboard, Ukulele, Bass, Drums
Genre:Folk rock, indie, alternative
Occupation:Singer-songwriter, public speaker, LGBT activist, actor
Years Active:2007 – present
Label:Kill Rock Stars

Ryan Otto Cassata (born December 13, 1993) is an American musician, public speaker, writer, filmmaker, and actor. Cassata speaks at high schools and universities on the subject of gender dysphoria, being transgender, bullying and his personal transition from female to male, including top surgery in January 2012, when he was 18 years old.[1] [2] He has made appearances on Larry King Live and The Tyra Banks Show to talk about being transgender. He has performed at LGBT music festivals and has gone on tours across the United States of America.[3] [4] Cassata has performed at popular music venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center,[5] Whisky a Go Go,[6] The Saint, The Bitter End, SideWalk Cafe, Turf Club (venue) and Bowery Poetry Club. Cassata won a date on Warped Tour 2013 through the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands online competition and performed on the Acoustic Basement Stage on June 21, 2013, becoming the first openly transgender performer to play at the Vans Warped Tour.[7] Cassata also won a date on Warped Tour 2015 through the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands and performed on the Ernie Ball Stage on June 20, 2015.

Cassata composed the soundtrack for the 2010 short film "Loop Planes" which screened at various film festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival,[8] South by Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival,[9] and Hamptons International Film Festival.[10] "Distraction" and "Sleeping Through" from Cassata's 2011 EP "Distraction" make up the soundtrack. Cassata is the main subject of the full feature Danish produced documentary Songs for Alexis.[11] Songs for Alexis, produced by Copenhagen Bombay with help from the Danish Film Institute, had its world premiere at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival to a sold-out crowd on April 30, 2014.[12] [13] Songs for Alexis had its United States premiere at Frameline Film Festival on June 28, 2014. Songs for Alexis also screened and sold out at DOC NYC.[14] [15] Indiewire listed Songs for Alexis on its "10 Films You must Watch at Frameline 2014" article.[16]

Activism

Since 2007, Ryan Cassata has presented at high schools, universities, support groups and conferences on topics such as coming out, gender dysphoria, being transgender, sex reassignment surgery, and bullying. Cassata also speaks about his experience as the first openly transgender student in Bay Shore High School and the changes he made there. Cassata talks about the petitions he made in Bay Shore High School to advocate for the rights of transgender students. He has discussed bullying, what gendered bathroom to use, and gaining the right to have his chosen name in the school yearbook instead of his name at birth.[17] [18] Cassata tells personal stories using speech, original songs and poetry and his own YouTube videos.[19]

In 2012, Cassata became the youngest keynote speaker that the Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference ever elected.[20] Ryan Cassata uses his music videos to discuss social justice topics such as bullying. His 2012 music video, "Hands of Hate" released on YouTube honors and remembers LGBT Youth who were murdered or committed suicide. He donated a portion of the proceeds to The Trevor Project. The lyrics of "Hands of Hate" discuss the murder of Matthew Shepard, the murder of Larry King, and the suicides of Tyler Clementi and Jamey Rodemeyer. Larry King is honored in the second verse:

Ryan Cassata raised money with the Frank Cassata Family Foundation and Underworks in 2014 to provide over 400 transgender youth with new chest binders.[21]

In 2015, Ryan Cassata appeared on the San Francisco Trans March line-up with Laverne Cox.

Ryan Cassata has spent time in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Little Rock, Arkansas educating the town through public speeches about the transgender community and screenings of Songs for Alexis.[22] He also performed concerts at festivals and venues around the state.[23] [24]

Cassata has delivered speeches and performances at colleges and universities such as Harvard University, Kent State University, Carnegie Mellon University, Boston University, University of Southern California, Capital University, Rider University, Rutgers University, Central Washington University, San Francisco State University, Binghamton University, Dominican University of California, University of New Hampshire, State University of New York at Purchase,[25] State University of New York at New Paltz, Ursinus College, State University of New York at Old Westbury, Farmingdale State College, St. Joseph's University, William Paterson University, Dowling College and Mount St. Joseph University.

Cassata has delivered speeches and performances at high schools such as Bay Shore High School, David H. Hickman High School, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, Amityville Memorial High School, Ossining High School, Kingston High School, Monmouth Regional High School, Strong Vincent Middle School, Rancho Cotate High School, Freedom High School (Oakley, California) and Dougherty Valley High School.

Bustle put Cassata on the "7 Young Trans* Activists You Should Know About This Year" list in 2016 saying "he's also become one of the most prominent young trans* activist speakers in America."[26]

Cassata has appeared on Larry King Live, The Tyra Banks Show and local television to speak about being transgender. He also appeared on CNN live to advocate for gender neutral bathrooms.[27]

Music career

Ryan Cassata's song "Soda Cans" was listed in the 2014 article by The Advocate as a 'Trans Anthem.'[28] Cassata was listed on Logo TV's list of "9 Trans Musicians You Need to Get Into."'[29] Cassata and his song "We're The Cool Kids" were listed on the 2017 Billboard list of 11 Transgender and Non-Binary Musicians You Need to Know.[30] [31]

Cassata is the first openly transgender musician to perform at Warped Tour after winning the Ernie Ball Battle of The Bands contest in 2013 and 2015.

Cassata's music video for his song "Other Friends" was featured in Billboard Magazine in 2019 with an in-depth interview and was featured on the front page of the website.[32] The song "Daughter" was featured again in Billboard's "50 Stellar Songs by LGBTQ Artists That You Might Have Missed in 2018 (But Shouldn't Have)."[33] Cassata and his song "Daughter" were also featured in Paper Magnifiine's article titled "50 LGBTQ Musicians You Should Prioritize" in 2018.[34]

Cassata is one of two of the 2019 recipients of The ASCAP Foundation "Sunlight of the Spirit" Award which is presented to an individual who is exemplary in recovery and in music creativity for his original song "Jupiter." Ryan Cassata performed at The ASCAP Foundation Honors 2019 at Jazz at Lincoln Center and accepted his award.[35]

YouTube

Cassata began creating vlogs and uploading footage from his concerts in 2007. Cassata posts videos on his personal YouTube channel, Ryan Cassata talking about his experience as a transgender man, a musician, and a public speaker. his channel has over 76.5 thousand subscribers, and his videos have been viewed over 6.7 million times.[36] Ryan Cassata has collaborated on videos with Davey Wavey,[37] Skylar Kergil, Aydian Dowling, ElloSteph, Arielle Scarcella, Marissa Farina, and Stevie Boebi. Cassata became the first transgender person on the LGBT Panel at Playlist Live in February 2015 and appeared with Stevie Boebi, ElloSteph, Marissa Farina, RJ Aguiar, and Tyler Oakley.

Cassata was a regular member on the collaboration YouTube channel LGBTeens a channel that has over 35,000 subscribers and was part of the Big Frame network. Cassata vlogged about the LGBT community and his personal experience as an openly LGBT teen on this channel.[38]

He has been rated as one of the "top 5 most influential transgender YouTube creators" by NewMediaRockstars.[39]

Acting

In June 2015, Ryan Cassata was cast as a lead character in Beemus directed by Lauren Wolkstein. Cassata played a high school gym student.[40] Cassata won the award for "Best Breakout Performance" at the Victoria TX Independent Film Fest in March 2016.[41] Cassata appeared in a Bonobos (apparel) national commercial titled "However You Fit" in 2018 which featured 172 men wearing the same style of pants.[42]

Notable awards & honors

Discography

LPs

The Theme of Humankind[49] (Artemendous Records, May 28, 2011)Track Listing:

Musicians: Production:

The Rhythm (ROC Productions, May 25, 2012)Track Listing:

Musicians: Production: Songs for Alexis (Original Soundtrack Recording) (ROC Productions, April 30, 2014)Track Listing:

Soul Sounds (ROC Productions, February 21, 2015)[50] Track Listing:

Musicians: Production:

Shine (ROC Productions, March 15, 2016) [51] Track Listing:

Musicians: Production:

The Witches Made Me Do It (ROC Productions, March 27, 2020)

Track Listing:

Musicians: Production:

Magic Miracle Mile (ROC Productions, October, 22nd, 2021)

Track Listing:

Musicians: Production:

EPs

Distraction (January 12, 2011)Track Listing:

Musicians: Production:

Oh, Alexis: Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 1[52] (ROC Productions, December 13, 2012)

Track Listing: Production:

In America: The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 2 (ROC Productions, April 13, 2013)

Track Listing: Production:

Jupiter, It Won't Be Long: The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3[53] (ROC Productions, September 13, 2013)Track Listing:

Production:

Chicago Midway: The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 4 (ROC Productions, April 13, 2014)Track Listing:

Production:

Virginia, Pick Up The Phone (ROC Productions, July 7, 2017)Track Listing:

Production:

Singles

Captain May (May 2014)

Musicians:

Production:

Look At The World (January 2016)

Musicians:Jon Jeremy, Tormented, Ryan Cassata

Light Up (August 2017)

Musicians: Production:

Daughter[54] (April 2018)

Musicians:

Production:

It's Christmastime[55] (December 2018)

Musicians & Production:

Jupiter (March 2019)

Musicians:

Production:

Back Down South (May 2019)

Musicians:

Production:

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Loop PlanesComposer of the soundtrack
2013Gender Silent[56] Himself
2014Songs for Alexis[57] Himself, Composer of the SoundtrackReleased at Hot Docs International Documentary Festival in Toronto[58] and Frameline Film Festival[59]
2014On The Road: Ryan Cassata 2014 Tour Documentary[60] Himself, Composer of the SoundtrackDVD Only
2015Beemus, It'll End In Tears[61] The Studentpremiered at South by Southwest
2015Flesh TradeCooperpost-production
2018Before We FallComposer of the credits soundtrack
2018Must've BeenTeenage BoyChromeo ft. DRAM
2018Bonobos: Evolve the DefinitionHimself
  1. EvolveTheDefinition is a project Bonobos started to build a conversation around the definition of "masculine."
2020Two EyesJalinpost-production
2020No Ordinary Man (film)Himself Nominated for GLAAD Media Award
2021Birthday BoySoundtrack Addition: ‘Daughter’

Written & Performed by Ryan Cassata

Originally a kick starter project, Birthday Boy is directed by Leo Lebeau and currently in post-production.

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009Larry King LiveHimselfTV series; Episode: "Born in the Wrong Body!"
2010The Tyra Banks ShowHimselfTV series; Episode: "We're 7 & 8 Years Old and Know We Are Transgender"
2012The Jason Galka ShowHimselfTV series; Episode: "Ryan Cassata"
2012The Jason Galka ShowHimselfTV series; Episode: "Ryan Cassata Returns"
2013Head First[62] [63] HimselfTV series; Episode: "The Wrong Body"
2013 HuffPost Live[64] HimselfTV series; Episode: "The Life Of A Transgender Teenager"
2013 HuffPost Live[65] HimselfTV series; Episode: "The Fight For Transgender Teen Rights"
2016CNNHimselfNews; "Young People Talk About New Guidelines[66] "
2018TurntKaiFacebook Web Series, Episodes 1.24, 1.39, 1.40
20181 In 8 Is 1 Too ManyHimself PSA Commercial for Lifetime Network
2018Thank You Come AgainComposer of Soundtrack CreditsTV Web Series
2018Bad AllyComposer of Soundtrack, Ep 6TV Web Series

Theater credits

Readings & Workshops

Publications

Ryan Cassata currently writes for Rock The Pigeon Music Blog.

YearPublicationTitle
2014IndieWire"Ryan Cassata, The Trans Teen From New Doc 'Songs For Alexis,' Shares His Experiences Making The Film and Bringing It To Hot Docs"[69]
2015The New York Times"Ryan Cassata"[70]
2015The VOV Zine"Carl Beane"
2016Original PlumbingOriginal Plumbing Magazine #17, The Tattoo Issue, Chapter: "Home"
2016Film In Revolt "Almost Famous" [71]
2016Heart Journal"Dear Dad"[72]
2017HuffPost"My Bathroom Struggle As A Transgender Student"[73]
2017HuffPost"Being Publicly Misgendered Doesn’t Bother Me"[74]
2017HuffPost"Passing As Cisgender Can Sometimes Mean Life Or Death"[75]
2017HuffPost"Respecting They/Them Pronouns"[76]
2017HuffPost"Consent as emPWRment"[77]
2017HuffPost"Transgender Veteran: ‘You Cannot Silence Us.’"[78]
2017HuffPost"Trans Actors For Trans Characters"[79]
2018FTM Magazine, Trans Men Magazine May 2018, Issue 12, Chapter: "Flying High In The City of Angels"
2018The Advocate"Banning Conversion Therapy Will Save Lives"[80]
2018Indie Music Bus"How To Book Your Own Tours DIY"[81]
2018FTM Magazine, Trans Men Magazine June 2018, Issue 13, Chapter: "To Our Trans Masc Founding Fathers"
2018Indie Music Bus"Why Proper Show Etiquette Can Pay Off"[82]
2018Indie Music Bus"TOUR HACKS: A Nervous & Prepared Musicians Guide"[83]
2019Medium - Matthew's Place"Figuring Out My Identity Was Like Trying On New Clothes"[84]
2019Medium - Matthew's Place"The Trans Guys Who Made the Path Easier to Walk"[85]
2019Indie Music Bus"Can You Be Creative As A Songwriter If You Are Sober?"[86]
2019Medium - Matthew's Place"Powering Through & Destroying Closet Doors"[87]
2019Medium - Matthew's Place"Major Brands & Their Pride"[88]
2019Medium - Matthew's Place"Sober at Pride"[89]
2019Medium - Matthew's Place"The Healing Powers of Music"[90]

Bibliography

Contributions

Music videos

Title!scope="col"
Year
"Sleeping Through" 2011
"Soda Cans"2012
"Hands of Hate"[91] 2012
"Mayday"2013
"Bedroom Eyes (Demo)2014
"Bedroom Eyes"2016
"Check Engine"2016
"Alcatraz"[92] 2016
"We're The Cool Kids"[93] 2016
"Don't Count Me Out"2016
"Sinking, Falling"2017
"Light Up"2017
"Daughter"[94] 2018
"It's Christmastime"2018
"Back Down South"2019
"Bamboo Plants"2019
"Extended Vacation"2020
"Catcher in the Rye"2020
"Sober"2020
"Gender Binary (F U)"2020
"Love Thing"2020
"Star****er$"2021
"Loner Boy"2021
"Hometown HEro"2021
"OK, ON THE RECORD"2021
"HOLD ON, YOU BELONG (People Like Us)"2022
"WE MARCH (Stronger Together)"2022
"EVERYTHING CHANGED"2022
"if you ever leave long island"2023
"HOWL (Protest Song)"2023

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Challenges faced by transgender people discussed during National Coming Out Day . https://archive.today/20130131200547/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/2482600231.html?FMT=ABS&date=Oct+12,+2011 . dead . January 31, 2013 . Asbury Park Press . October 12, 2011 .
  2. Web site: Ryan Cassata—Civil rights icon, fearless performer and headstrong teen. . Long Island Pulse . March 23, 2012.
  3. Web site: Ashland shows its pride at 2011 Southern Oregon Pride Parade. siskiyou.sou.edu. October 6, 2011.
  4. Web site: Film fest highlights Trans Pride Los Angeles weekend . sdgln.com. June 21, 2013.
  5. Web site: Ryan Cassata Wants to Be a Positive Example of Recovery: 'You Can Accomplish If You're Sober'. Billboard. December 12, 2019.
  6. Web site: RYAN CASSATA profile at. whiskyagogo.com. October 13, 2013.
  7. Web site: Perpetual Change – Ryan Cassata. tgforum.com . October 21, 2013.
  8. Web site: Loop Planes.. tribecafilm.com. 2010. September 22, 2013. September 28, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928054249/http://tribecafilm.com/filmguide/archive/512d05e31c7d76e0460027fb-loop-planes. dead.
  9. Web site: Loop Planes.. swglff.com. 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927102652/http://www.swglff.com/2011/films/item/loop-planes. September 27, 2013. mdy-all.
  10. Web site: Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF): It Takes a Tough Tailbone.. thepublishingcontrarian.com. October 15, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130928230237/http://www.thepublishingcontrarian.com/2010/10/15/hamptons-international-film-festival-hiff-it-takes-a-tough-tailbone/. September 28, 2013. mdy-all.
  11. Web site: Songs for Alexis. . dfi.dk . 2014.
  12. Web site: Hot Docs 2014: Songs for Alexis Review. dorkshelf.com. 2014.
  13. Web site: Hot Docs 2014 Spotlight: Songs for Alexis. 2014. May 18, 2014. March 8, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160308205012/http://hyemusings.blogspot.com/2014/05/hot-docs-2014-spotlight-songs-for-alexis.html. dead.
  14. Web site: Songs For Alexis DOC NYC. 2014.
  15. Web site: Songs For Alexis. frameline.org. 2014.
  16. Web site: 10 Films You Must Watch at Frameline 2014. blogs.indiewire.com. 2014. July 10, 2014. March 22, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160322170813/http://blogs.indiewire.com/bent/14-films-you-must-watch-at-frameline-2014-20140617?page=2#blogPostHeaderPanel/. dead.
  17. Web site: Ryan Cassata: Singer, Songwriter, Voice for LGBT Youth.. Long Island Press. February 5, 2014.
  18. Web site: My Bathroom Struggle As A Transgender Student.. Huffington Post. February 22, 2017.
  19. Web site: Transgender Activist Speaks About Gender Identity Awareness.. The New Hampshire. November 23, 2015.
  20. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Ryan Cassata.. Freedom Requires Wings. November 14, 2012. September 22, 2013. September 27, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130927132906/http://www.freedomrequireswings.com/2012/11/exclusive-interview-with-ryan-cassata.html. dead.
  21. Web site: In A Bind: YOUTH in NEED of Chest Binders.. Fundrazr. July 1, 2014.
  22. Web site: VOV Full Schedule.. Valley of the Vapors. March 14, 2014. April 21, 2018. April 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180422064659/http://valleyofthevapors.com/vov-full-schedule/. dead.
  23. Web site: VOV "Trail Shows" at City Parks.. Valley of the Vapors. February 8, 2015. April 21, 2018. April 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180422063206/http://valleyofthevapors.com/vov-trail-shows-at-city-parks/. dead.
  24. Web site: Make plans: Little Rock Pride Fest is Oct. 11.. ArkTimes. September 26, 2015.
  25. Web site: Ryan Cassata Brings His Story to Purchase. The Purchase Beat. December 3, 2015.
  26. Web site: 7 Young Trans* Activists You Should Know About This Year.. Bustle. January 28, 2016.
  27. Web site: Transgender youth talk about bathroom guidelines .. Bustle. May 14, 2016.
  28. Web site: 37 Alternative 'Trans Anthems' by Trans Musicians .. The Advocate. December 11, 2014.
  29. Web site: 9 Trans Musicians You Need to Get Into .. Logo. August 20, 2015.
  30. Web site: 11 Transgender & Non-Binary Musicians You Need to Know. Billboard. September 14, 2017.
  31. Web site: Ryan Cassata: Singer, Songwriter, Voice for LGBT Youth.. Long Island Press. February 5, 2014.
  32. Web site: Ryan Cassata Talks Coming Out To His Father, Toxic Masculinity & His New Video For 'Daughter'. Billboard. April 11, 2018.
  33. Web site: 50 Stellar Songs by LGBTQ Artists That You Might Have Missed in 2018 (But Shouldn't Have). Billboard. December 27, 2018.
  34. Web site: 50 LGBTQ Musicians You Should Prioritize. Paper. August 9, 2018.
  35. Web site: Ryan Cassata Wants to Be a Positive Example of Recovery: 'You Can Accomplish If You're Sober'. Billboard. December 12, 2019.
  36. Web site: Ryan Cassata. YouTube. 2019-12-16.
  37. Web site: Transgender Men Proudly Take Their Shirts Off. NewNowNext. 2015-11-23.
  38. Web site: LGBTeens. YouTube. 2013-09-22.
  39. Web site: TOP 5 MOST INFLUENTIAL TRANSGENDER YOUTUBE CREATORS WHO HAVE HELPED BUILD THE TRANS COMMUNITY ONLINE. New Media Rockstars. August 23, 2013.
  40. Web site: Talking To Ryan Cassata About the Trans YouTube Music Scene. September 22, 2015 . Broadly. 2015-11-23.
  41. Web site: Lights, camera, Crossroads! . March 17, 2016 . Victoria Advocate. 2016-03-21.
  42. Web site: Bonobos' New Campaign Celebrates the Diversity of Men's Bodies. May 23, 2018 . Adweek. 2018-07-15.
  43. Web site: Ryan Cassata—Civil rights icon, fearless performer and headstrong teen.. Long Island Pulse. March 23, 2012.
  44. Web site: Ryan Cassata - Battle of the Bands. Battle of the Bands. May 22, 2015. May 22, 2015. July 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160709152120/http://www.battleofthebands.com/u/ryancassata. dead.
  45. Web site: Ryan Cassata - Battle of the Bands. Battle of the Bands. June 8, 2015. May 22, 2015. July 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160709152120/http://www.battleofthebands.com/u/ryancassata. dead.
  46. Web site: Ryan Cassata Awarded 2015 Music Community Member of the Year. Rock The Pigeon. December 3, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208130938/https://rockthepigeon.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/ryan-cassata-awarded-2015-music-community-member-of-the-year/. December 8, 2015. mdy-all.
  47. Web site: Lights, camera, Crossroads! . March 17, 2016 . Victoria Advocate. 2016-03-21.
  48. Web site: Ryan Cassata Wants to Be a Positive Example of Recovery: 'You Can Accomplish If You're Sober'. Billboard. December 12, 2019.
  49. Web site: Ryan Cassata Music performs from "The Theme of Humankind" at PrideFest Milwaukee 2011. . ifelicious . June 14, 2011.
  50. Web site: Talking To Ryan Cassata About the Trans YouTube Music Scene. September 22, 2015 . Broadly. 2015-11-23.
  51. Web site: Meet the young trans artist making pop punk bangers. https://web.archive.org/web/20160316024449/http://fusion.net/story/280649/ryan-cassata-trans-artist-shine/. dead. March 16, 2016. Fusion. March 21, 2016.
  52. Web site: Ryan Cassata releases "Oh, Alexis: Acoustic Sessions. Vol. 1". . PRLOG . November 18, 2012.
  53. Web site: Ryan Cassata – Jupiter, It Won't Be Long The Acoustic Sessions, Vol. 3 CD Review. . neufutur . November 25, 2013.
  54. Web site: Ryan Cassata Talks Coming Out To His Father, Toxic Masculinity & His New Video For 'Daughter'. Billboard. April 11, 2018.
  55. Web site: Trans Artist Reclaims The Holidays For LGBTQ People . Rainbow Times. December 22, 2018.
  56. Web site: Gender Silent: Featuring Ryan Cassata, Rae Raucci, Izek Campion, Jamie Armstrong. Vimeo. 2013-12-06.
  57. Web site: Songs for Alexis.. dfi.dk. 2014.
  58. Web site: Hot Docs 2014: Songs for Alexis Review. dorkshelf.com. 2014.
  59. Web site: Songs For Alexis. frameline.org. 2014.
  60. Web site: Ryan Cassata: Tour Documentary. PledgeMusic.com. March 9, 2014. March 9, 2014. December 12, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212075925/http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/ryancassata. dead.
  61. Web site: Talking To Ryan Cassata About the Trans YouTube Music Scene. September 22, 2015 . Broadly. 2015-11-23.
  62. Web site: Head First: May 22. . tvtonight.com.au. May 21, 2013.
  63. Web site: Head first into fear, and some body surfing.. The Australian. May 22, 2013.
  64. Web site: The Life of a Transgender Teenager.. HuffPost Live. September 26, 2013.
  65. Web site: The Fight For Transgender Teen Rights.. HuffPost Live. November 20, 2013.
  66. Web site: Transgender youth talk about bathroom guidelines . May 14, 2016 . CNN. 2016-05-14.
  67. Web site: Odds & Ends: Significant Other's Lindsay Mendez & Rebecca Naomi Jones to Workshop Musical from Hedwig Team & More.. Broadway.com. June 20, 2017.
  68. Web site: Theatre C Brings Las Vegas to New York with COTTON CANDY AND COCAINE.. Broadway World. August 27, 2017.
  69. Web site: Ryan Cassata, The Trans Teen From New Doc 'Songs For Alexis,' Shares His Experiences Making The Film and Bringing It To Hot Docs. indiewire. May 22, 2013. May 22, 2015. November 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141108103917/http://blogs.indiewire.com/bent/ryan-cassata-the-transgendered-teen-from-new-doc-songs-for-alexis-shares-his-experiences-making-the-film-and-bringing-it-to-hot-docs-20140502. dead.
  70. Web site: Ryan Cassata. The New York Times. May 22, 2015.
  71. Web site: Almost Famous. Film In Revolt. November 7, 2016.
  72. Web site: Dear Dad. Heart Journal Online. July 25, 2016.
  73. Web site: My Bathroom Struggle As A Transgender Student. HuffPost Online. February 22, 2017.
  74. Web site: Being Publicly Misgendered Doesn't Bother Me. HuffPost Online. February 22, 2017.
  75. Web site: Passing As Cisgender Can Sometimes Mean Life Or Death. HuffPost Online. February 26, 2017.
  76. Web site: Respecting They/Them Pronouns. HuffPost Online. March 9, 2017.
  77. Web site: Consent as emPWRment. HuffPost Online. May 13, 2017.
  78. Web site: Transgender Veteran: 'You Cannot Silence Us.'. HuffPost Online. August 5, 2017.
  79. Web site: Trans Actors For Trans Characters. HuffPost Online. September 17, 2017.
  80. Web site: Banning Conversion Therapy Will Save Lives. The Advocate. May 8, 2018.
  81. Web site: How To Book Your Own Tours DIY. Indie Music Bus. May 13, 2018. May 14, 2018. May 15, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180515055027/https://indiemusicbus.com/how-to-book-your-own-tours-diy-rocassatamusic/. dead.
  82. Web site: Why Proper Show Etiquette Can Pay Off. Indie Music Bus. June 21, 2018. June 21, 2018. June 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180622010830/https://indiemusicbus.com/proper-show-etiquette-pay-off/. dead.
  83. Web site: TOUR HACKS: A Nervous & Prepared Musicians Guide. Indie Music Bus. September 8, 2018. September 18, 2018. September 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918175110/https://indiemusicbus.com/tour-hacks-a-nervous-prepared-musicians-guide/. dead.
  84. Web site: Figuring Out My Identity Was Like Trying On New Clothes. Medium. January 7, 2019.
  85. Web site: The Trans Guys Who Made the Path Easier to Walk. Medium. January 25, 2019.
  86. Web site: Can You Be Creative As A Songwriter If You Are Sober?. Indie Music Bus. October 29, 2019. November 14, 2019. December 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191211220215/https://indiemusicbus.com/can-you-be-creative-as-a-songwriter-if-you-are-sober-by-rocassatamusic/. dead.
  87. Web site: Powering Through & Destroying Closet Doors. Medium. February 12, 2019.
  88. Web site: Major Brands & Their Pride. Medium. June 4, 2019.
  89. Web site: Sober at Pride. Medium. June 13, 2019.
  90. Web site: The Healing Powers of Music. Medium. March 21, 2019.
  91. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Ryan Cassata. . Freedom Requires Wings . November 14, 2012 . September 22, 2013 . September 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927132906/http://www.freedomrequireswings.com/2012/11/exclusive-interview-with-ryan-cassata.html . dead .
  92. Web site: Ryan Cassata Drops Video For Honky-Tonk Anthem "Alcatraz" . NewNowNext. June 8, 2016.
  93. Web site: 11 Transgender & Non-Binary Musicians You Need to Know. Billboard. September 14, 2017.
  94. Web site: Ryan Cassata Talks Coming Out To His Father, Toxic Masculinity & His New Video For 'Daughter'. Billboard. April 11, 2018.