“To be queer and come out in 1985 when I'm 16 years-old, and be thrust into the AIDS crisis and fighting for our lives on the front lines…Silence does equal death...I don't know anything else, but to fight. I do understand that as a queer Black man in this space who has been unapologetic from the beginning, there is a responsibility for me to continue to speak my truth.” 

The incomparable Billy Porter does it all! He’s an Emmy, Tony, and Grammy award-winning actor, singer, producer, director, composer, and playwright. Billy is a cultural icon and a trailblazer on issues of race, sexuality, and gender. On top of all that - he’s an activist. For most of his life, Billy has been spreading awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and demanding action. And he’s done all of this while daring to live his truth.

In this episode, Van and Billy sit down to talk about Billy’s impact on the culture and the way his career has been intertwined with activism. This is a conversation filled with wisdom and laughter. It is proof of the fact that despite the pain he has endured, Billy infuses his life and work with joy.

New episodes of Uncommon Ground with Van Jones release weekly, every Wednesday.

How do you infuse joy into your work? What activist traditions do you pull from? Call 347-770-2785 and leave Van a voicemail. Your comment or question will be recorded, and may be played and answered on a future episode of Uncommon Ground!

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