Ryan Cassata

ABOUT RYAN CASSATA

Famous for both his indie folk rock recordings and his LGBT activism, Cassata was the subject of the acclaimed documentary film Songs for Alexis, for which he also wrote and performed the soundtrack. His other recordings include the singles "Jupiter" and "Daughter" and the album Shine.

He had surgery to begin his female-to-male transition in early 2012 and went on to tour the United States as both a musician and a speaker.

"Hands of Hate," a music video Cassata uploaded to YouTube, serves as a somber memorial to four LGBT young people who committed suicide or were murdered: Jamey Rodemeyer, Tyler Clementi, Lawrence "Larry" King, and Matthew Shepard .

Raised on Long Island, New York, he later settled in Los Angeles, California.

He has opened up for Jeffrey Lewis .