REPRESENTATION: Billy Porter
BILLY PORTER has praised his TV series Pose for providing wider representation of gay black men.
Set in the 1980s, Pose is an American drama series that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York, through dance and music.
Speaking at the 92nd Street Y Community Centre in New York, Porter explained how roles for black gay men are changing fast.
You get used to being (cast as) the funny friend," said Porter. "You get used to the industry cutting your d**k off because you're a queen."
The Golden Globe Award-nominee insisted he was "grateful" for the impact the series has had on the perception of New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQ scene.
“We get a lot of airtime as African-American men killing each other. We get a lot of stories about that,” he says. “But we get very few where we see black men trying to figure out how to love each other. And that is really thrilling.”
The star continued: "I am so grateful to be a part of what I see as the change.”
The season two finale of Pose airs on FX next Tuesday.