An overjoyed Billy Porter had a lot to say in the pressroom on Emmy night after winning for “Pose”

The Emmys took place a few days ago and I’ve only just now gotten around to looking at the backstage pressroom interviews with the winners. Billy Porter’s session is especially memorable.

He was asked what went through his mind when his name was called out as the winner of the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for Pose:

“Thank you, Jesus! It’s been a long time, it’s been a lot of work … and I am just so grateful that I lived long enough to see the day where I could stand up in front of the world as my true authentic self. I was told that who I am was never gonna work. I was told that who and what I am would never be successful, period. I did not believe them. This is proof positive … believe in yourself, invest in yourself, love yourself, and then you teach pother people how to do it.”