Billy Porter Calls out Attacks on “People Who Are Othered” on ‘The View’: “We’re Already in a Civil War”

Billy Porter delivered an impassioned speech on today’s episode of The View, decrying the ongoing attacks against the transgender community as he boldly bashed the “civil war of the mind” that’s overtaking our country.

Porter — an actor, singer and writer who is openly gay and known for his dogged LGBTQ+ activism — was last on the show in July 2022, when he discussed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ complaint that a Miami restaurant was putting on drag shows not fit for children.

“What do you make of the fact that we’re still talking about this and that it’s happening in other states, too, not just Florida?” Joy Behar asked her guest, before noting, “there’s this war against trans people.”

Porter added, “And LGBTQ+ people, and people who are othered and cabaret people.”

Behar asked, “Why are they doing it?” and Porter immediately replied, “For power. Everything is about power, and you can always trace it back to the money … it’s very hypocritical. The leading cause of death in children are guns!”

Raising his voice, Porter repeated, “They’re guns!” before adding, “I know it’s the morning and I’m not supposed to be screaming, but they’re guns, not drag queens. Leave us alone!”

He continued, “It’s a distraction. It’s a distraction on purpose. We don’t know what to pay attention to. Our justice system is convoluted, it’s hard to understand on purpose. Let’s be clear about that.”

Porter later added, “What are we talking about and what are we doing? And everybody’s so scared because, ‘Oh, if we do that then we might have a civil war.’ We’re already in a civil war, y’all. It’s a civil war of the mind.

“They’re messing with our minds. We’re already in it,” he continued, before pausing to cool off for a moment. Reaching for the arms of co-hosts Behar and Sunny Hostin, who were seated beside him, Porter said, “I’m sorry, y’all get me so riled up! I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Hostin brushed off his apology, telling the Pose star, “But you’re making the right points.”

Behar agreed, adding, “A civil war of the mind is a very good point,” while Porter gestured to his own forehead and insisted, “It’s already here!”

The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.