The Unmistakable Creative Podcast Bjorn Ryan-Gorman: Coming Out as Gay in the Snowboarding World and Reclaiming Masculinity on Your Own Terms
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Nov 14, 2025 Bjorn Ryan-Gorman, a professional snowskater, stand-up comedian, and LGBTQ+ advocate, shares his compelling journey of coming out in the competitive snowboarding world. He candidly discusses the mixed reactions from his family and the challenges of navigating identity and safety in rural spaces. Bjorn explores masculinity, playing with the concept of masculine drag in the bear community, and the need for broader LGBTQ+ representation. He also emphasizes treating coming out as a celebration, not a spectacle, and uses comedy to connect and reflect.
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Backyard Parks Launched A Career
- Bjorn built giant backyard snowskate parks and ran a global snowskate event called the Yeti Snowskate Jam.
- That hands-on building led to sponsorships, event promotion skills, and a professional snowskating career.
Risk Needs Can Be Re-Routed
- Bjorn replaces physical-risk adrenaline with safer performance risks like stand-up comedy and motorcycling.
- Those activities satisfy his need for risk while protecting his body and career.
A Podcast Moment Changed Everything
- Listening to Todd Glass on Marc Maron pushed Bjorn to stop denying his sexuality and come out at 27.
- Coming out eased his self-hatred and reduced the aggressive risk-taking in board sports.