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Television personality and Pasadena recreation services specialist Tyanta Snow plans to share experiences from his own life journey and call for acceptance Monday as keynote speaker at Pasadena’s National Coming Out Day observance.
The event, which also commemorates LGBTQ+History Month, will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Memorial Park, located at Raymond Avenue and Walnut Street, organizers said.
Snow is an actor, host and musician who has appeared in more than 15 reality TV shows and game shows, city officials said. Most recently, he appeared as “Human No. 28,” also known as “The Tic Tac Toe Guy,” on Netflix’s series, “100 Humans.”
“Snow also has his own gospel group named Ty Snow and Xtreme Purpose, which has toured and recorded across the country,” city officials said in a written statement. “He serves as director for KJLH Radio Free Voices under Stevie Wonder’s direction.”
He also works as a recreation services specialist and as a counselor at the La Pintoresca Teen Education Center. He has formerly taught special education for the Pasadena Unified School District, where he was affectionately known as “Mr. Tigger.”
Snow said he hoped sharing his own experiences might be helpful to others.
“I can relate to the feeling of not having a voice in my journey of being accepted as gay. I know the weight that you carry wanting to step into your light,” he said. “I want to convey my experience and realizations. I also hope to inspire others from all ages to live their truth.”
Snow said he also has a piece of advice.
“This is the best time to be you. There is no other person like you, and we all deserve to meet you,” he said. “Come out and be free and allow people to love and accept you for who you are. There are more people to support you than you think. Love conquers all and experiences that love every day by being the true authentic you. I did it, and so can you. Trust the process.”
Snow said his time on “100 Humans” has been “an awesome experience.”
“It gave me a platform to reach so many and share acceptance,” he said. “I was able to be a proud, gay, Black man on screen for millions to see…. I was able to connect with my fans all over the world via text, email, social media, videos and phone calls, inspiring others to love and accept people for who they are not for who we want them to be.”
When not on TV, Snow said he thoroughly enjoys his work with the city, coordinating activities and special events, as well as providing social support and gang intervention.
“It’s the best job to have been able to touch so many lives,” he said.
While working with PUSD’s Special Education Department, “ I loved watching my students achieve goals that their own friends and parents didn’t believe they could accomplish,” Snow said. “They taught me much more than I ever could teach them. I learned from them the skill of positive thinking, optimism, joy through adversity and love at all costs.”
Looking forward to Monday’s event, he said he felt it was “an honor and a privilege” to be selected as keynote speaker.
“This day is special to me because it allows people in the LGBTQ+ community to come out of the shadows, stand proud and claim their truth with people that will love and support them completely,” Snow said.
The sentiment of National Coming Out day should not be reserved to a single day of the year, he added. “I believe we should make it comfortable and acceptable for anyone and everyone to come out into the light and be celebrated for it whenever they are ready to accept their truth publicly.”
Related:
Pasadena Celebrates National Coming Out Day and LGBTQ+ History Month
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