Ryan Butler

Ryan Townsend Butler is an American politician and filmmaker. He directed the first documentary about same-sex marriage to air on national television in the United States, is the former president of the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina and is a former member of the Democratic National Committee.^[1]

Ryan Butler
Born	Ryan Townsend Butler
Education	University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA) American University (JD)
Occupations	Filmmaker attorney
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Chris Sgro ​ (m. 2006)​
Website	ryanbutler.net

Political career

Butler previously served on the Advisory Neighborhood Commission for Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.^[2] in Ward 2. He was elected on November 7, 2006 with 87.47% of the vote.^[3] He was the first President of the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina.^[4][5][6] In April 2015 Butler was appointed as Chair of the Council of Review of the North Carolina Democratic Party.^[7] On February 6, 2016 he was one of five people elected to the Democratic National Committee by the North Carolina Democratic Party’s State Executive Committee, making him a superdelegate. That marked the first time an out LGBT DNC member had ever been elected by the North Carolina Democratic Party.^[8]

Film and legal career

Butler's most notable film, A Union in Wait (2001), was an independent documentary film about same-sex marriage which aired on Sundance Channel and screened at more than 20 film festivals worldwide.^[9][10] It was the first documentary about same-sex marriage to air on national television in the United States.^[11][12]

After the release of A Union in Wait, Butler worked as a television editor in Washington, D.C., for ABC 7, the National Geographic Channel, and CNN. In 2008 he moved back to North Carolina, where he worked as in house counsel at Replacements, Ltd.^[13] after working for the North Carolina General Assembly^[14] and then as an attorney in private practice.^[15]

References

1. "Charlotte: Gay delegate, PFLAG fundraiser, prayer breakfast, band concert, music benefit, vet summit, men's group – QNotes". February 12, 2016.
2. "Dupont Circle ANC 2B - Commissioner Ryan Butler 2B04". Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007 – via dupontcircleanc.net.
3. "District of Columbia: Board of Elections and Ethics: Election Results" (PDF).
4. "President's Council – LGBT Democrats of NC". Archived from the original on September 9, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
5. "Cooper to gay rights group: Day of equality is coming – QNotes". November 10, 2013.
6. "President's Council | LGBTQ Democrats of NC".
7. "NC Democratic Party tries to oust former labor commissioner John Brooks".
8. "Charlotte: Gay delegate, PFLAG fundraiser, prayer breakfast, band concert, music benefit, vet summit, men's group – QNotes". February 12, 2016.
9. "A Union In Wait". aunioninwait.com. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
10. "Sundance Gets Religious". OutSmart. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012.
11. Drusch, Andrea (March 17, 2014). "Fred Phelps: 10 things to know". Politico.
12. Allen, Bob (March 22, 2019). "North Carolina Baptist church ordaining trans woman to gospel ministry". Baptist News Global.
13. "Replacements, Ltd. Announces Additions to Legal and Management Teams". Replacements, Ltd. October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
14. "Archive.org, North Carolina General Assembly - Senate Members & Respective Legislative Staff". Archived from the original on June 28, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
15. "Attorney Ryan Butler". Vaughan Law. Archived from the original on October 23, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

• Official website
• Ryan Butler at IMDb 
• Sundance Gets Religious, Out Smart Magazine, April 1, 2003; retrieved November 11, 2007; archived copy March 17, 2012
• Coming Attractions: Features, A Consumer Guide to MFF 2001, Baltimore City Paper, April 25, 2001; retrieved November 11, 2007; archived copy May 31, 2012