The way the LGBTQ+ community has been portrayed in popular culture has come a long, long way in recent years. Although there's still a lot of work to be done, so many creative queer folks have been making awesome and inclusive movies, music, TV shows, and more that better represents our lives and our stories, so in honor of Pride Month, we're taking the time to honor 25 of these inspiring people! This is the 2019 #PRIDE25!
It wouldn’t be a proper list of influential LGBTQ celebrities without referencing Billy Porter, who has been absolutely celebrated in the theater scene for over two decades, but who has really exploded into the eye of the general public lately with his roles in Pose and American Horror Story.
Of course, also of note is Porter’s consistently show-stopping appearances on the red carpet. The tuxedo dress hybrids he’s worn on several occasions, including to the 2019 Tony’s and Oscars, have broken down barriers and sparked important conversations about living outside of the expected gender binary.
“LGBTQ narratives and stories and archetypes are initially very performative, right?” he said in conversation with Esquire earlier this month. “So you make the statement. What I’m interested in is the conversation that comes after the statement.”
The conversations Porter’s statements have led to are nothing short of potent — and while the rest of us talk, he continues his work. After all, he wasn’t honored with the Courageous Voice Award for “unwavering boldness and decades-long perseverance” for sitting back and watching the world go by.
And whether that work is out in the world, speaking directly to fans and fresh ears that may need to hear what he has to say, or simply posing on a red carpet being himself, or perhaps just continuing on as a groundbreaking out, gay, black leading man on a critically acclaimed show, it’s all part of who Billy Porter is, and it’s all part of what makes him a crucial voice in the LGBTQ community.
“[Authenticity] is fully and truly a ministry for me,” he said. “I want to minister to people who don’t understand and change the trajectory of the world.”
Season 2 of Pose is currently airing on FX!
And check out more of the 2019 #PRIDE25 honorees here!
