Billy Porter – an American Singer, Actor, Songwriter, Director, and Vocal Coach – Faced His Truths and, In Doing So, Set Himself Free

Early Life

Billy Porter was born September 21, 1969, he was born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He is the son of William E. Porter and Clorinda Ford. Billy grew up in the church with strict parents on Christianity. He has one sister whose name is Mary. Billy had a troubled childhood, after his parents left his family Billy’s mother remarried and Billy was then being raised by his mother and new “step father”. His family life soon turned into uncertainty, he started to experience sexual abuse from his stepfater. He had continued to rape him for more than four years.

Billy went to Taylor Allderdice High School situated in Pittsburgh. Followed by this he went to the University of California, Los Angeles. Then he went to Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts with a degree in Drama. He also went to Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School attending Musical Theatre class. Around sixteen Billy came out as gay. It was not easy because his family was very religious and strict and they did not understand him.

Making His Mark

Billy started his acting career through theatre. Likewise, he got his first success from the role of Ensemble/John in ‘Miss Saigon’ in the year 1991 and ‘Teen Angel’ in the musical Grease in the year 1994. He got his breakout from his role as Lola in ‘Kinky Boots’. Moreover, he won awards in several quantities including an Award for Best Actor in Musical, an Award for Best Musical Theater Album, Award for Favorite Actor in Musical, and an Award for Outstanding Actor in Musical.

To add to what he has accomplished, he is also a writer and he wrote the show ‘Ghetto Superstar’ in New York in the year 2005. Similarly, he presented his off-Broadway play ‘While I Yet Live’ in the year 2014 which became a huge success at Primary Stage. Likewise, besides theatre, Billy is also popular among Television audiences. He has played a leading role in the television series ‘Pose’. Likewise, he played the role of Shaniqua in the Christmas movie Noel in ‘Twisted and Randy’.

Activism

Billy is an advocate for the LBGTQ+ community. He is also an active member of the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This is the theatre organization that raises funds in support of people suffering from AIDS. But with the latest string of protests, the Pose star is concerned that not enough people are actively engaging in the act of protest and instead turning to social media as a place to protest.

Love Life

Billy started dating American business tycoon Adam Smith in 2009. Later in 2016 Billy and Adam married with his sister ministering over the ceremony. Billy insisted he and Adam were married under the tenure of Barack Obama as still their president.

Breaking the Silence/Releasing the Shame

Billy was diagnosed with HIV in 2007, but stayed silent about his secret for 14 years. He realized his secret was tied into his relationship with his mother and his ex-relationship with the church. He was so ashamed of his secret he couldn’t tell his mother and wanted her to die without her knowing. The day of shooting the last episode of Pose, Billy decided to tell his mother about his illness. The truth has to set him free. After telling her, he felt a release, he felt free. He then soon came to tell his castmates and the world.

Nowafter, he now feels joy in his heart, “I’m getting ready to play the fairy godmother in Cinderella. I have new music coming out. I have a memoir coming out. Pose is out. I’m directing my first film. And I’m trying to be present.”