The Accidental Activist

Billy Porter (Actor)

Episode Summary

Billy Porter has been blazing trails his entire career — from his Tony Award-winning performance in “Kinky Boots” to his starring role in FX’s “Pose” to his daring, gender-bending red carpet fashion. In the season two finale, Isha and Billy talk about his journey from the church choir to the heights of television and Broadway success. Billy opens up about the homophobia he endured in his church community and the indignities he experienced early in his theater career as a gay Black man. Billy also talks about his decision to reveal his HIV diagnosis after years of keeping it a secret from the public. And, of course, he and Isha talk politics — from Billy’s anger about current threats to LGBTQ+ civil rights to how we can remain hopeful for the future.

Episode Notes

Billy Porter has been blazing trails his entire career — from his Tony Award-winning performance in “Kinky Boots” to his starring role in FX’s “Pose” and his daring, gender-bending red carpet fashion. In the season two finale, Isha and Billy talk about his journey from the church choir to the heights of television and Broadway success. Billy opens up about the homophobia he experienced in his church community and the indignities he experienced early in his theater career as a gay Black man. Billy also talks about his decision to reveal his HIV diagnosis after years of keeping it a secret from the public. And, of course, he and Isha talk politics — from Billy’s anger about current threats to LBTQ+ civil rights to how we can remain hopeful for the future. 

Read Billy’s memoir: Unprotected: A Memoir a book by Billy Porter

 

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