- Okay, y'all, I'm trying to keep it together, okay?
It's the BET Awards 2022.
I am standing here with the Billy Porter.
- Hi. - How are you?
- I am fantastic.
I really am. - I'm honored.
- Oh, you're sweet.
You're very sweet.
- I simply adore you.
- Oh, thank you.
- We are here, culture's biggest night.
- Yeah.
- What does it mean for you to be here at the BET Awards?
- You know, right now in this moment,
I have to say that as an LGBTQ person of color,
it's wonderful to be seen, it's wonderful to be here
in a space where we have not always been seen,
we have not always felt comfortable.
You know, Taraji, shout out to her for making sure
that what I'm getting ready to do,
I'm getting ready to perform.
You know, it's like, none of us are free
'til we're all free, right?
We have work to do.
We're here, we're queer.
Get used to it and get over it.
- We're not going anywhere.
- Because we have work to do together.
We can't heal our civilization if we don't do it together.
I think that is no more clear then that SCOTUS decision
that came down this week.
It's like, no, they're coming for all of us.
- Yes.
- How important was it to have that performance
in the times that we're in at the BET Awards?
- Well, you know what?
We are a part of the black community.
We are everything, and therefore
we should be always included
because we never leave anyone out.
We support all artists,
we rock the music in our community,
we watch the television shows.
BET is a part of us.
BET is a part of how I grew up.
So therefore, for us to be a part of this,
this means that there is inclusion
and this means that we are visible
and we are seen. - We're moving forward.
- And we're yes, moving forward.
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
What's happened tonight that really set you up?
Like, I really enjoyed that.
They shut that down.
- Well, everything.
I got to smell Mariah Carey's perfume as she walked by.
- Y'all didn't know.
- Amazing.
Baby Face walked by me.
I like, there was just so much that as a child growing up,
that I got to see here tonight in just this moment,
and so it was so amazing and I believe
that if we can all just look past
all those things that were brought to us
through colonization and see the love, and the appreciation,
and the talent that exist within all of us, then we can rock
because minority will always become majority
through love and support.
- The BET awards been a part of our culture
for a very long time.
What does it mean for you to be here?
- Well, I know you probably heard it from Dominique already,
and I'm from the ballroom scene, but like,
I think it's kinda hits me in such a good way now
because again representing for my community,
and because of the show that I have, "Legendary,"
and being a host of that and having this (beep) voice
and gotta make sure it works to reach out to the rest.
So for us, I feel like we now are fitting to the spaces
that we were living in, you know?
So weird to hear that, but now we get to exist
and be present and be alive.
- And be present. - Definitely.
- Yes. I love it.
What are you looking forward to seeing?
- Oh my God, everything that just happened.
I'm just like you too as well, by the way,
I'm just saying.
But I'm happy to see everyone.
I have a chance to see people I've seen on TV
and, you know, see people I've once,
you know, kinda like sung to their songs.
There's now opportunities for me to like,
you know, be in the same space to share that with them.
- Well, I'm excited to see you
because you've been letting them have it
on "Legendary." - Baby, I don't play no games.
- Not everyone. Not everyone. - With no judge,
no audience members, no guest judge.
- All right, thank you for stopping by.
I appreciate you.
- Thank you so much.
- Go enjoy the show. - Let's go.
Lemme get outta this.
- Yes.
Dashaun from "Legendary" on HBO Max.
If you have not checked out that show,
you have got to tune in.
It goes down over there.
Listen, let's get back to it.
Let's get back to it.
It's the BET Awards 2022.
(upbeat music)