Billy Porter is the recipient of the GAY TIMES Honour for Outstanding Impact.
The multihyphenate star, who dropped his brand new album Black Mona Lisa today, has continued to have a stratospheric rise in his career.
After treading the floorboards of Broadway, Porter turned his attention to the screen by starring in Ryan Murphy’s trailblazing trans drama Pose as Pray Tell.
The critically-acclaimed drama saw Porter cement himself in history as the first openly gay Black man to win a Primetime Emmy Award.
Pose also provided a watershed moment for television, following the queer African-American and Latino communities of the outrageous and glamourous world of NYC’s Vogue scene in contrast to the tortuous realities of the HIV epidemic. It made history as the series with the most regular trans cast members.
Porter is acutely aware of his position in the LGBTQIA+ community he so proudly embodies and represents. He uses his platform to fiercely present his authentic self, previously telling GAY TIMES: “Everybody says ‘just be who you are!’ It’s easy to be who you are when who you are is what’s popular. I’ve always been queer; it’s always been a homophobic business. Period. The end.”
Porter is known for his use of fashion as a vehicle for his activism. His fits have subverted societal norms and paved the way for more gender-neutrality in fashion. “I am part of a revolution,” he said. “The tuxedo dress has changed the culture forever.”
Porter’s latest work for Black Mona Lisa pays homage to the freedom and sexual liberation of 1970s nightlife, played over disco-infused production. “Putting together this album after a life’s work has been really healing, inspiring and one of the things I am most proud of in my whole life,” he explained.
GAY TIMES Honours 2023 celebrates the individuals and organisations who have had a profound effect on the lives of LGBTQIA+ people over the past 12 months.
This year’s line-up of Honourees acknowledges people making huge impact in music, TV, film, community and drag.
The new digital edition of GAY TIMES Magazine spotlights this year’s winners and is available to read now on the GAY TIMES app, Apple News +, Readly and Flipster.
To follow all of the action from GAY TIMES Honours 2023, check out our Instagram @GAYTIMES.
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