GLAAD’s Anthony Ramos sat down with Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer Billy Porter for a candid conversation about his Emmy-nominated breakthrough performance as Pray Tell on FX’s Pose. In this exclusive interview, Porter opens up about what the recognition he has received from his role in Pose means to him at this point in his over thirty year-long acting career.

This year, Porter became the first openly gay Black actor to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category at the Primetime Emmy Awards. A win for Porter in this category would represent an incredible milestone for LGBTQ people of color in Hollywood. 

During the interview, Porter speaks in-depth about what it means to be a queer “bankable” star in Hollywood and how the entertainment business pretends to be more inclusive than it really is. Porter also talks about big plans for the next season of Pose, announcing that he will be directing episodes for the very first time. Throughout the interview, Porter also shares what it was really like to make that iconic queer love scene with Dyllon Burnside, and talks about appearing in Taylor Swift’s video for “You Need to Calm Down.”

Plus, Billy gave GLAAD exclusive insight into what he is going to wear on the Emmys red carpet! Since Pose debuted, Porter has used the red carpet to showcase his gender non-conforming style and we can’t wait to see what he wears for TV’s biggest night!

Check out the full interview below.

Billy Porter is currently in Boston directing the play “The Purists” at Calderwood Pavillion at the BCA. The show runs August 30 – October 6. Tickets are available now at www.huntingtontheatre.org.

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards air live September 22 on FOX.