He spent decades dazzling in performances before he could be himself in public.
Hes making up for lost time.
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Billy Porters voice booms.It fills up a space, demanding to be listened to.
Porter speaks with a rasp that glides into clear, full-throated song, sometimes mid-sentence to emphasize a point.
The voice has served him well on Broadway, where he debuted over 30 years ago.
he says, his tone biting.
You want to know why they want us dead?
Because were Black and were brown and were queer.
They dont give a shit about us.
So we better start caring about ourselves.
Show up for your lives.Wake up!
His red-carpet looks start conversations: Is atuxedocumball gownnot appropriate for a man at the Oscars?
And in the face of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Porter has consistently personalized the issue.
Porter once had dreams of becoming the male Whitney Houston.
His voice filled rooms at 5 years old as he sang in his Pittsburgh church choir.
His roles were often caricatures.
He capitulated to get by.
His lovers in music videos were played by women.
Every aspect of the star was scrutinized and warped until there was very little of Billy left.
Like Porter, Pray is driven toward change by his disappointments.
The truth is the healing.
And I hope this frees me.
There, he confronts old demons pulled from Porters personal experience, including childhood sexual abuse.
He is called to the pulpit to sing.
The performance plays like therapy for the character and for Porter.
Been through so many trials and tribulations, he sings, almost howling, but I thank you.
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