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Without Prejudice Previews:
THE MAKING OF ME:
“Forget Tinky Winky. The youngest star of Jerry Fallwell’s worst nightmare is probably Michael. Handsome and personable, articulate and intelligent, Michael is everything the far-right’s cartoonish caricatures of gay people aren’t.†- Courier PostMichael Billy, a New Jersey native, has become a national leader for gay and lesbian youth and is an ardent advocate for an end to homophobia. Following a brutal attack when he was a high school freshman, Michael has performed all over the United States his one man show on how prejudice and bigotry can influence one’s life. He was invited by President and Mrs. Clinton to attend the White House Conference on School Safety. While there, Michael met with Attorney General Janet Reno to discuss the need for federal hate crime laws.As a regular in the New York night life Michael continues to entertain the masses hosting shows, emceeing events, and performing live standup. Michael has appeared on or has been interviewed by CNN NewsStand, The Advocate, MTV, The Leeza Gibbons Show, Fresh Air, WHYY-FM, XY magazine, MSNBC, CNN, The Ricki Lake Show, and Frontiers Newsmagazine, which included him in its 1999 “Hometown Heroes†Special issue. Michael received the Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign (1999) and the Sue Anne Big Crow award for civil rights and education from the National Education Association (2000.)Being adopted by an Italian, Catholic dad and an Austrian Jewish mom gives this gay Colombian with body issues a very unique take on everyday life. Uncomfortably cute, Michael allows his audiences to have a laugh at imperfection.
