Billy Porter's mother was told she would 'burn in hell' for supporting her gay son
Broadway star Billy Porter has revealed how his deeply religious mother, who died in February 2024, still "loved her gay son".
Billy Porter's mother was told she would "burn in the fiery pits of hell for loving her gay son".
The 55-year-old actor and singer - who came out as gay when he was 16 - has paid tribute to the way his Christian mother Cloerinda Jean Johnson Porter-Ford accepted his sexuality despite her own religious beliefs.
He told the 'Dish from Waitrose' podcast: "My mother was the greatest woman who ever walked the face of this earth.
"She is the personification of what true Christianity means. She didn't understand me. She didn't understand my gayness. She didn't understand this theatre thing. She didn't understand any of it.
"And yet and still, she was my biggest supporter. She said, 'Whatever God has called you to do, and I believe you when you say that to me, go do that'.
"And I'm so grateful that she lived long enough to see the fruits of her labour. Cause it wasn't easy for her, you know, her community was not kind to her.
"You know, they would call her on her telephone and tell her that she was going to burn in the fiery pits of hell for loving her gay son and she did it anyway."
