Billy Porter, theater performer, singer, and actor, opens up about finding his voice at a young age, overcoming trauma, and how playing Belize in Angels in America changed his life. They discuss the importance of self-discovery, breaking barriers in the entertainment industry, and healing during quarantine. The podcast also explores the challenges faced as a trailblazer and the power of forgiveness.
Embrace queerness as a form of service to the world and stay true to oneself.
Forgiveness is for personal peace, not for others; self-work and therapy are crucial for healing and moving forward.
Deep dives
Billy Porter's remarkable journey
Billy Porter discusses his remarkable journey in this podcast episode. He reflects on the challenges he faced as an artist and as a human being in establishing himself and his voice. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and embracing one's queerness as a form of service to the world. Porter also shares his experiences of navigating the industry's dismissal and rejection and the significance of his roles in projects like Angels in America and Kinky Boots. Despite the hardships, Porter remains resilient and is dedicated to creating change in the world.
The power of forgiveness and self-awareness
Porter touches on the concept of forgiveness and emphasizes that it is for one's own peace and not for others. He shares his journey of self-awareness and coming to terms with his identity and spirituality. Porter reflects on his experiences of trauma, depression, and anxiety, and the importance of therapy and self-work in healing and moving forward. He also highlights the significance of the Marianne Williamson quote that encourages embracing one's power and not playing small for the sake of others' comfort.
Inspiring change and embracing differences
Porter discusses the progress made in terms of societal change and acceptance, including marriage equality. However, he acknowledges that there is still a long way to go and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and loving each other despite our differences. He shares his experiences of facing racism, white supremacy, and homophobia and the need for understanding and collaboration among communities. Porter urges individuals to embrace their own light and inspire others to do the same, fostering a brighter future.
The resilience and determination to keep pushing forward
Throughout the podcast episode, Porter shares the challenges he faced in pursuing his career and the moments of rejection and dismissal. He recounts moments where he felt underestimated and overlooked. However, despite the obstacles, Porter highlights the importance of resilience and determination. He shares examples of how he refused to give up, even in moments of doubt and despair. Porter's journey serves as an inspiration and a reminder to never lose sight of one's dreams and to keep pushing forward.
In his powerful interview with Zane Lowe, the theater performer, singer, and actor opens up about finding his voice at a young age, coping with and overcoming trauma, and how playing Belize in Tony Kushner’s off-Broadway revival of Angels in America changed his life.
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