About this project
***UPDATE*** THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!
ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY:
A second class citizen is defined as: a person whose rights and opportunities are treated as less important than those of other people in the same society. There are many areas in which gays, lesbians, & bisexuals do not have the same rights & opportunities as others in society. We must change this now.
I want to make a documentary that encompasses all areas in which we are discriminated against. The general population is not aware that discrimination against the gay community goes beyond marriage & bullying. There is far too much hate directed towards our community and I want to capture that hate on camera. In addition, I want to explore where this hate comes from, why it continues to exist, and what we must do to get rid of it. A better solution is needed because the solution we have right now isn't working fast enough.
I am not a second class citizen. You are not a second class citizen. Right now, the laws in place (and lack thereof) say that we are. Let's change that.
WHY I WANT TO MAKE THIS DOCUMENTARY:
The idea for this documentary was born when I first learned that California's Proposition 8 had passed, defining marriage only between a man & woman in that state. I was angry & I wanted to do something about it. As time went by, I learned more & more about the inequalities that exist for gays, lesbians, & bisexuals in this country. I made a friend on YouTube who revealed to me that he would be expelled from his school if they found out he was gay. I did not believe him - in what kind of reality could something like that be true? It is true. Shortly after that, a string of natural disasters occurred & my boss asked me if I wanted to donate blood with her. I immediately got up to go with her & then stopped abruptly realizing that I couldn't donate blood. She did not believe me, nor did she understand why. I felt like a different species. I did not feel one with the human race in that moment. That was the moment it had a direct effect on me & my rights - that is when I decided to make this documentary.
AREAS OF DISCRIMINATION COVERED:
*MARRIAGE
*ADOPTION
*EDUCATION (PRIVATE SCHOOLS)
*PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS/RELIGIONS
*EMPLOYMENT
*BLOOD, SEMEN, & BONE MARROW DONATION
*ANTI-BULLYING LAW
*HOUSING
*HOMELESSNESS/PARENTAL OBLIGATION
*GAY PANIC DEFENSE
HOW YOUR CONTRIBUTION WILL BE USED:
The $50,000 I am raising online makes up 1/3 of the total budget to make the film. Crew, equipment rental, travel/transportation, & post production make up a majority of the costs.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T REACH MY GOAL:
I don't get to keep any of the money raised - it is all or nothing.
FOLLOW THE DOCUMENTARY:
REWARDS:
Limited Edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" Shirt:
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
Pledge $5 or more Pledge $5 or more
A big heartfelt thank you - no amount is too little. Your name will go on the donor section of the website.
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A thank you from Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak on Twitter or Facebook!
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An autographed movie poster (11" x 17"). Along with... A thank you from Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak on Twitter or Facebook! *Please add $5 to international orders.
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A thank you phone call from Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak. I will need your phone number. I promise not to save it. Unless you want me to. An autographed fim poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $5 to international orders.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $75 or more Pledge $75 or more
Your name will appear as a credit at the end of the film! Along with... A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Along with... Credit at the end of the film. Along with... A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
A personalized thank you video from Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak. Along with... A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Guest host a Monday edition video on the YouTube collab channel "Gays of the Week"! Along with... A personalized thank you video made for you by Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
A Skype chat with Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak. Along with... A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $700 or more Pledge $700 or more
The lifeguard buoy worn by shirtless comedian Guy Branum in the "California Gays" music video". Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Add $15 for US shipping. *Add $25 for international shipping.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
You'll get to appear in Ryan's next music video filming in Los Angeles late January/early February. Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Reward must be selected before shoot date. *Travel/hotel not provided. *Please add $7 to international orders.
Pledge $800 or more Pledge $800 or more
The wedding tuxedo/gown hybrid worn by the bride (Jake Quinney) in the "Only Gay In The World" music video. Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A movie poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $15 for US shipping. *Please add $25 for international shipping.
Pledge $900 or more Pledge $900 or more
The white flower vase from the "Peacock" music video - my personal favorite memorabilia from any of my music videos. Along with... A Skype chat with Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $8 for US shipping. *Please add $15 for international shipping.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
2 tickets to the Los Angeles film premiere -or- to the premiere closest to your city. Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Travel/Hotel not provided.
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
Associate Producer credit! Along with... 2 tickets to the Los Angeles film premiere -or- to the premiere closest to your city. A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Travel/Hotel not provided.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
A dinner date with Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak. Along with... Associate Producer credit. 2 tickets to the Los Angeles film premiere -or- to the premiere closest to your city. A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Travel/Hotel not provided.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
A dinner date with Anthony Saldana (star of the "Only Gay In The World" music video). Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Travel/Hotel not provided.
Pledge $3,000 or more Pledge $3,000 or more
A dinner date with Cory Lee (star of the "Only Gay In The World" & "We R Who We R" music videos). Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Travel/Hotel not provided.
Pledge $7,500 or more Pledge $7,500 or more
Producer/Director Ryan James Yezak will travel to you to host a screening of the documentary in your living room. You can invite whoever you want & we will have a Q&A. Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Travel/Hotel not provided.
Pledge $10,000 or more Pledge $10,000 or more
Executive Producer credit! A trip to Los Angeles to attend the film premiere & dinner beforehand! Along with... A Skype chat with Ryan. A personalized thank you video made for you by Ryan. A limited edition "I Am Not A Second Class Citizen" shirt (black or white). Credit at the end of the film. A special edition DVD of the film. A film poster (11" x 17"). *Please add $7 to international orders. *Flight/Hotel included if in US. *Only hotel included if international.
Project By
Connected as Ryan James Yezak (5157 friends)
My name is Ryan James Yezak - I am a filmmaker and a vlogger on YouTube. I have created popular music videos over the past couple of years ("California Gays", "Peacock", "We R Who We R", "Only Gay In The World") to express my unique vision. Recently though, my vision has become flooded with the daily occurrences of inequality in our country. We are living as second class citizens & it cannot go on any longer. So I am going to make a documentary about it. I would love it if you joined me because it can not be done without you.
