Unprotected: A Memoir by Billy Porter

“I am in your midst, without apology. I’m here to stay. I’m here as I am. And if you have a problem with that—fuck you!”

The cover of the book is shown. It is a photo that features the author sitting cross-legged on the floor wearing a cowboy hat. Black-and-white filter.

From the publisher:

“It’s easy to be yourself when who and what you are is in vogue. But growing up Black and gay in America has never been easy. Before Billy Porter was slaying red carpets and giving an iconic Emmy-winning performance in the celebrated TV show Pose; before he was the groundbreaking Tony and Grammy award-winning star of Broadway’s Kinky Boots; and before he was an acclaimed recording artist, actor, playwright, director, and all-around legend, Porter was a young boy in Pittsburgh who was seen as different, who didn’t fit in. At five years old, Porter was sent to therapy to “fix” his effeminacy. He was endlessly bullied at school, sexually abused by his stepfather, and criticized at his church. Porter came of age in a world where simply being himself was a constant struggle.

Billy Porter’s Unprotected is the life story of a singular artist and survivor in his own words. It is the story of a boy whose talent and courage opened doors for him, but only a crack. It is the story of a teenager discovering himself, learning his voice and his craft amid deep trauma. And it is the story of a young man whose unbreakable determination led him through countless hard times to where he is now; a proud icon who refuses to back down or hide. Porter is a multitalented, multifaceted treasure at the top of his game, and Unprotected is a resonant, inspirational story of trauma and healing, shot through with his singular voice.”

My Review

Purchase the book here. This blog will be supported with a small commission if you do so 🙂

I will be the first to admit that there were many parts of this book where I felt out of my depths – being from both a completely different generation from Billy Porter and existing for almost my entire life in utter ignorance of the world of musicals. But I am really, really thankful that this book exists. This book, and many aspects of Porter’s life, feels like the equivalent of the saying “when you are going through hell, keep going.”

Some of the tragedy captured in this book is fairly expected – his struggle getting cast in shows where even a singular black person being on stage was an anomaly, the abuse of performers which is pervasive to this day, and the financial unviability of performance as a career. He discusses that cultural scars left by the AIDS epidemic, and living as HIV positive himself, a secret he kept for 14 years. All of this trauma is felt viscerally and wholly. There is no such thing as sugarcoating this pain, which is only of benefit to the reader.

That being said, I had to take many breaks during this reading experience. Porter’s childhood was particularly devastating, including sexual abuse and bullying, and this book is best consumed as the reader can handle it.

Finally, Billy Porter’s personality – his charisma and voracity – often goes underexamined by the media surrounding him. As such, to hear his existence in his own words is incredibly engaging.

Billy Porter has rightfully become an icon all his own.