Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: Billy Porter is an absolute legend and it's been a long time since I hit 'borrow' in my library app this fast.

Overall rating: Ok, let's get past my regular 'I hate rating memoirs because I'm just happy the people wanted to share part of their lives with us rant' and get to the point, 'Unprotected' is a beautiful, extremely well written, full of style and sass book that gives you a mere glimpse into Porter's life and the experiences they had becoming who they are today. I cannot pretend to even understand some of the circumstances Porter had to endure, but I am thankful they kept pushing and became the absolute firecracker of an individual they are. I would 100% recommend 'Unprotected' and fully recognize that my review may be biased based on my love of Porter and their repertoire of work.

“Your service is leaning into your truth, your queerness, your authenticity. Yeah, that thing you been told needed to be fixed. Yeah, the thing everyone told you would be your lifelong liability. You are enough, just as you are.”
― Billy Porter, Unprotected: A Memoir

“I am in your midst, without apology. I’m here to stay. I’m here as I am. And if you have a problem with that—fuck you!”
― Billy Porter, Unprotected: A Memoir

Reader's Note: 'Unprotected' includes themes of child sexual abuse, intimacy, politics, the events of 9/11, and world health crises involving AIDS and COVID-19. If you have the capacity and safety to do so, absolutely read 'Unprotected.'