Exclusive: Billy Porter on coming out at the height of the AIDS crisis

In the vibrant lights of fame, where many are praised for his or her talents, few are as loved and revered for his or her truths as for his or her art as Billy Porter. Whenever he speaks, his words sound like an anthem. He goes through life with the belief that authentic living is just not only about courage, but in addition about survival. Porter is a strong voice for marginalized communities, a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and an advocate for people living with HIV/AIDS. His life’s work is rooted in the intersection of identity, faith and activism, where he strives to create lasting change and uplift others by sharing his story.

In August, I had the opportunity to fulfill the winner of Tony, Grammy and Emmy awards at the festival Vision Church in Atlanta. In cooperation with Elton John AIDS Foundationwas there to talk with Black faith leaders, including Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III, founder of the Vision Community Foundation, about reducing the stigma related to HIV. Georgia is one of the states, together with Florida, Texas and Louisiana, where the Foundation funds programs resulting from the alarming rate of latest transmissions.

During our conversation, Porter shared more about his journey – coming out in the Nineteen Eighties at the height of the AIDS crisis, his complicated relationship with faith, and the work he does with the Elton John AIDS Foundation to uplift marginalized communities, especially in the South. On National Coming Out Day, Porter’s story is a reminder of the power of visibility, faith and the courage to take up space without feeling embarrassed.

The star got here to light in 1985. For many, this time was marked by fear, stigma and death. But for Porter, it was also a call to motion. “We immediately went to the front line to fight for our lives,” he recalls. “For me, coming out wasn’t nearly declaring my sexuality – it was about taking back my power. “Silence equals death.” This phrase: “Silence equals death” comes from the times he worked with Act upa world grassroots group founded in 1987 to “end the AIDS pandemic.” This is a slogan that continues to be relevant to him.

“The dehumanization of queer people continues to occur because of silence,” Porter says, echoing a message from a long time ago. For him, National Coming Out Day is about breaking that silence. “Coming out is about stopping being silent. It requires responsibility – both on the part of those who hear the information and those who transmit it,” he says. “We need to come out so that we know who our allies are and who are not, so that we can understand how to validate and save ourselves.”

As a first-generation activist in the post-civil rights movement, Porter has at all times been determined to talk truth to power. “I only know how to fight for justice,” he says. Porter’s platform as an artist has played a key role in his activism. Whether through music, acting or writing, Porter uses his talents to spark dialogue about social justice, particularly in the fight against HIV, which he was diagnosed with in 2007. His work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the most personal extensions of that mission. “It’s a gift and a blessing to be in this place,” she says of her collaboration with the nonprofit organization. As an envoy for the foundation, Porter is committed to raising awareness and funds for critical HIV programs, especially in the South, a region disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, especially in Black communities.

“The most important thing is mobilization,” explains Porter. “And at the heart of it is the Black Church. That’s where most of us are. Much of our trauma comes from here, but change can happen there too. The foundation works to train religious leaders to better understand and support their congregations, particularly around issues related to HIV and sexual health. “I didn’t know such a work was being created,” he admits, “but I’m very moved.”

One of the most profound points of Porter’s journey is his relationship with faith. Raised in the Pentecostal church, his early years were stuffed with each a love of community and the sting of rejection. “I was taught that who I was was sinful and that my existence was an abomination,” he says. At just five years old, his family sent him to a psychologist resulting from concerns about his “queerness.” His mother remarried shortly thereafter, and Porter endured years of sexual abuse from his stepfather, a trauma to which the church community turned a blind eye.

“I was cursed in hell and there was no responsibility for the man who molested me,” he recalls with pain but in addition with extraordinary perseverance. Porter was 16 years old when he left the church, but despite spiritual and familial abandonment, he never completely abandoned his spiritual connection. “I had to separate religion from spirituality,” he explains. “I have always been spiritual. I took what was good from the church and applied it to my ministry as I walk in the world.”

For the first time in over three a long time, Porter feels at home in church again – due to Vision Church, a queer-affirming space that seeks to bridge the gap between faith and the LGBTQ+ community. “From today on, I have a church home,” says Porter, overwhelmed by the love and authenticity of the community. Vision Church’s uncompromising embrace of queerness allowed him to regain his faith, bringing his spiritual journey full circle. He sang his song “Boldness” with members of the church choir, which focuses on authenticity, “the courage to show yourself honestly,” as the text says.

Throughout our conversation, one thing is abundantly clear: Billy Porter lives fully, freely and unapologetically. The day after the meeting, he took the stage in Atlanta, making that clear by headlining the Global Black Pride event, held for the first time in the U.S.

“For the first 25 years of my life I tried to be someone else,” he says. “I’ll be that someone now…without apology.” It’s a reminder that representation matters, whether it’s on the red carpet or in church. Showing yourself fully is an act of love and resistance. And as we rejoice National Coming Out Day, his message is empowering to anyone who has ever felt the have to hide their identity: “Come out so you can live freely. This way you can know who loves you for who you are. Because this is where healing begins.”

As the actor and singer continues to encourage through his art and activism, he also strives to depart behind a legacy of love, truth and resilience. It stays a beacon for many who wish to live without fear. “I spent years hiding who I was,” Porter recalled. “Now I live out loud, because that’s the only way I can be free.” His work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation is only one chapter in his ongoing mission to fight for marginalized people and ensure everyone has a likelihood to live – and love – openly.