Billy Porter Creates Groovy HRC Playlist to “Raise You Up”
Billy Porter wants you to kick up your kinky boots (inside)!
Human Rights Campaign has enlisted the Emmy-winning Pose star to create a special Spotify playlist to help lift spirits during the coronavirus quarantine.
Porter's "Raise You Up" playlist features feel-good jams from artists like Elton John, Shea Diamond, George Michael, Aretha Franklin, and Sylvester. It also includes his LGBTQ Pride anthem "Love Yourself," which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Play Songs chart.
"To help you through these difficult times, I’ve put together a playlist, and I’m sharing with you some of my favorites so that it can maybe brighten the day a little bit, share some light, keep you inspired right now," Porter says in a video message. "Stay safe, stay sane, because we need you in the fight."
HRC has bundled the playlist in its launch of HRCares, a virtual care package to help the LGBTQ community cope with everyday challenges of the pandemic.
“During these unprecedented and challenging times, our strength and resilience lies within our community and with each other,” says HRC president Alphonso David in a statement. “More than ever, it is important to send a message of support to uplift the LGBTQ community and our allies who are directly—and all too often disproportionately—impacted by COVID-19."
Porter has been keeping busy during this crisis. This past week he participated in Sean "Diddy" Combs' virtual dance-a-thon to benefit health care workers, and he also attended a virtual Passover Seder to raise money for the CDC's emergency response fund.
The fashion icon will also headline a virtual LGBTQ fundraiser for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden along with Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, and Kristin Chenoweth. The April 23 event will be modeled on Rosie O’Donnell's recent livestream fundraiser for The Actors Fund.
Porter, last seen on the big screen in Like a Boss, is playing a “genderless” Fairy Godmother in the upcoming live-action Cinderella remake. Pose is expected to return later this year for its third season on FX.
