Ryan Leckey is an Emmy Award-winning content creator and storyteller whose social media has amassed tens of thousands of followers across platforms. He raised over $4.6 million for Allied Services, helping children and adults with disabilities through Ryan’s Run, a charity campaign he chaired during his time at WNEP-TV. Leckey Live, his popular morning show segment, became a fixture in many homes across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania, with residents waking up to Ryan’s high energy and positivity, or as he describes himself as “the human version of the Energizer bunny, who is also the human version of a yellow Labrador.” He’s always super happy and everyone’s welcome.
But when Ryan first arrived in Northeastern Pennsylvania in his early 20s, he felt pressure to fit the mold as “straight Ryan” and prove himself as one of the youngest reporters at the station. Not because of his coworkers, who he says have always been open-minded and supportive; rather he feared defying the public’s expectations which became even more complicated after he met a girlfriend locally.
As things started to get real in their relationship, with questions of long-term prospects, it became overwhelming. Ultimately, he ended their relationship when she decided to move out of the area. But the whispers and inner rumblings that he was attracted to men were still there, as they had been his whole life. “Sometimes that inner voice just keeps getting louder and louder where you can’t tune it out anymore to the point where you’re like not only do I need to tune into it but I need to explore this because I feel like this is going to allow me to shine as the person I’m meant to be,” he says.
Ryan eventually started dating men in his mid-20s in a period that he describes as “reliving his adolescence,” first by traveling out of the area to Philadelphia and New York to avoid being seen. He worried what viewers would think if they saw him out to dinner with a guy locally, because then it would also become real. Ironically, while traveling to Philadelphia and New York, he met people from our area who were there for the same reasons. Major cities provided a unique opportunity to be around others who were the same as you without having to look over your shoulder and worry about who’s watching. He did eventually start dating in NEPA, going to restaurants where he knew the owner, places he felt comfortable and safe.
“But looking back now, it’s almost like I put that fear and that hesitation to be my authentic self on myself, it was never really anyone in this area,” he says. When Ryan came out, most people were super supportive. He said some people were like, “We knew but we love you anyway and we just want you to be happy.”
He even used to host small hang outs at his apartment for his WNEP colleagues to meet guys that he was dating. His colleagues were a safe space and he trusted they weren’t going to tell anyone. He wants people to know “If you can be in someone’s inner circle, whether you’re in the gay community supporting them as an LGBTQ+ community member or you’re an ally, having that support goes along way.”
Ryan says he could never have imagined twelve years ago who he is today. He’s happily in a relationship for 8 years with his partner Matt, whom he loves, living life openly. “There’s something about when you own your truth and just really start letting your authentic light shine, you just feel this weight’s been lifted and you don’t feel like you have anything to hide.”
He chooses to approach his public persona and social media in much the same way, focusing on authenticity and connecting with people on a deeper level. “I can show that my life is messy, I can show it can be great, I can have sad times. And I think people appreciate when you’re just all in. When you’re a hot mess and you own it.”
Even though his supporters have always outnumbered his haters online, one criticism that stands out to him is when people say he’s just too much. And he has advice on that, “If people ever tell you, whether it’s you know, if you’re gay, whether it’s a family member or a friend who sees you just being all you and all in and says you’re just too much, tell them to go find less,” he says. “Because there’s other people who are going to be in your tribe, who are going to be in your corner, and guess what, then the haters, those aren’t your people. So if anyone tells you you’re way too much, no matter what it is, too much makeup, too many colorful clothes, tell them to go find less.”
He emphasizes, “We did not survive a pandemic to not live our full lives and be comfortable in our skin and celebrate who we are. Life is too short to let people push you back into a closet, to let people tell you it’s not okay to be who you are, so go throw your light everywhere.”
Written by Anthony Melf
One Comment
Pat Trosky
Your life sounds just like my son’s when he began his journey as a gay person. Today, he is in a long-term relationship and is very open about being gay. We love him and his partner dearly and so do our family and friends. It still breaks his soul when he hears remarks. Thank you for being you.