Music industry was violently homophobic: Billy Porter opens up about his initial days in showbiz

Emmy-winner Billy Porter has emerged as a strong voice in creating a more inclusive entertainment industry, but the actor initially faced a tough time navigating the divide.

Porter, who tried to break into the Hollywood scene in the 1980s, said at that time the industry was only looking for three types of African-American actors -- "James Earl Jones, the patriarch; Denzel Washington, the sex symbol, or Eddie Murphy, the genius clown."
The 55-year-old actor then asked himself, "Where am I fitting in?" and became a character actor "to hide behind little weight and work so I could eat."