Ryan Clayton, award-winning activist and performer

Spend 69 Seconds With Ryan Clayton, a local activist, performer, recipient of the Xtra West Community Hero award in 2009 and one of the stars of OUTtv's new show Tops & Bottoms.

01.Your first job.
As a kid I delivered newspapers around the neighborhood. I think my first paycheque was under a hundred dollars, but for an eight year old that is the coolest thing in the world. I bought pogs.

02.The job you wanted as a child.
I used to change my mind every other day (kind of the same now) but I did want to be a teacher for the longest time, and then a big movie star. Specifically, I wanted to be on Star Trek, wearing any other colour than red!

03.What gets you up in the morning?
Two cups of coffee. One on my way to the bus and one on the other end of the bus stop.

04.What puts you to sleep at night?
Nothing really. I spend most of the night contemplating love, life and all things shiny.

05.Favourite stage play of all time.
Wit. I watched it during the Okanagan Zone Festival right before I moved to Vancouver and it brought me to tears. The lead actress in it was brilliant and ended up winning best actress at that festival and the following ones it went to.

06.Favourite song and/or artist.
Proud, by Heather Small. It used to play in Starbucks all the time when I worked there and I would sing along under my breath while making lattes

07.One word your best friend would use to describe you.
Confident. His word, not mine. I just texted him as I read this question.

08.The one thing any visitor to Vancouver simply cannot miss.
Granville Island. Just take a whole day and go to all the shops, restaurants and theatres.

09.Complete this sentence: On Sunday mornings I...
really should go to the gym. Curse laziness!

MEET Ryan Clayton

Ryan Clayton is a 22 year old activist from the small BC town of Salmon Arm. He grew up in the backroom of theatres and art galleries, nibbling on cheesy crackers and eyeing up abandoned cups of wine without having the balls to try some.

After moving to Vancouver he became involved with Gab Youth Services as a facilitator and the Bob Loblaw Queer Art Society as an improv comedian. He now splits his time between politics, the arts and spending time with his friends around the city.

As an activist Ryan has spoken at many events, including the Joining Hands for Justice Rally (pictured) and Take Back the West End. He's been featured as one of Xtra West's Community Heroes and is a member fo the City of Vancouver's LGBTQ Advisory Committee. He will also appear on the upcoming OutTV show, Tops & Bottoms.

In his spare time he swims a lot and plans to return to school to eventually pursue a Bachelor of Social Work. He continues to remain active and involved in as many community oriented ventures as he can and delights in meeting new people, spending time with friends, dancing to his iPod while waiting for the bus and exploring nooks and crannys of the Lower Mainland where the quaintest cafés and neatest parks can be found.

Occasionally he'll do something crazy like the Grouse Grind or watch a movie on opening night. He also is rebellious and likes both Star Wars AND Star Trek.