Billy Porter ‘weeps’ at better queer representation on screen

Pause Star Billy Porter revealed that he gets emotional thinking about how far queer representation has come in TV and film.

Speaking exclusively to PinkNews ahead of his headline appearance at Brighton Pride on Saturday (August 3), the actor reflected on how the entertainment world has progressed since he got into the industry in the late ’90s.

Porter made history in 2019 when he became the first black gay actor to win an Emmy for best lead actor in a drama directed by Ryan Murphy. Pause Her co-star Michaela Jay Rodriguez became the first transgender woman to be nominated in a major category two years later.

But Porter isn’t frustrated that queer actors are only just starting to win awards. Last month, Baby Reindeer The lead actress, Nava Mau, is the first transgender woman to be nominated in the limited series or anthology series or film category.

“I’m 54 years old. I came out in 1985. None of this was happening then. None of what you see now was possible. The lives queer people are living now didn’t exist. Change is already happening,” he asserted. “Be where we are. This is where we are. Be the first, and we’ll keep moving forward.

“Oh, it could have been better. Oh, it could have happened sooner. Oh, oh, oh… it didn’t. It’s happening now. Let’s take it and explode it.”

the “Love Yourself” singer said of the Netflix Regency-era hit. BridgertonHe said seeing the diverse cast brings him to tears.

“I’m part of that generation. It was impossible for me to be who I am. When I was at drama school, [there were only three] Black male archetypes. This isn’t just about being gay, but about being heterosexual black men too.

“There were only three archetypes: patriarch James Earl Jones, sex symbol Denzel Washington and genius clown Eddie Murphy. [others]… I’ve really grown.”

“So, I Bridgerton “And I just cry. I went to drama school. I studied classics, and when I was there I thought: ‘For what?’ I got an A+ in hybrid English in dialect class, for what?’

When you look at the representation of black actors like Adjoa Andoh, Regé-Jean Page, and Golda Rocheubel, and queer characters like Benedict; Bridgerton “It’s absolutely breathtaking,” Porter added.

“When I’m sitting in a space of positivity and hope, and we all are, it’s contagious and it builds on itself. Baby, trust me, I can get into that ‘I’m sad’ spiral.” [But] I always try to remember: choose joy, choose hope, choose positivity.”

Billy Porter is his Black Mona LisThey’ll be releasing the album at Brighton Pride on Saturday (August 2) from 7.10pm, before touring across the UK in October.

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