I’m done.
These two words have become a sort of mantra for Billy Porter. Done with toxic masculinity, done with the denigration of femme men, done with subduing his fabulousness for the sake of employment. Porter, whose velvet tuxedo dress became of the talk of the 2019 Oscar’s red carpet, is an actor, dancer, and singer. He won a Tony for his “super gay” portrayal of Lola in the Broadway musical, Kinky Boots, and his portrayal of the ballroom emcee, Pray Tell, in the television series Pose is heavily favored to be garner Porter an Emmy nomination, if not a win.
But these roles and accolades were not easily achieved. Porter grew up in a devout religious household where he experienced homophobia and abuse. He escaped that life at seventeen. Now at age 49 the world is finally catching up with him.
Perhaps by catching up, more men can say they are done with striving for the imposed ideals of toxic masculinity and can embrace an identity or gender performance/presentation that is more true to the person they want to be. Perhaps people of all genders can be done with enabling, encouraging, or perpetuating the ideals of toxic masculinity.
We can all use a little more fabulous in an otherwise dreary world.
Read the full profile of Billy Porter via Esquire.
– Brett Goldberg
Cover photo by Allie Holloway from the original article by Justin Kirkland for Esquire
