Trump's DEATHBED CONFESSION Era is in FULL-SWING! He Let's the TRUTH SLIP!

So much of the anger we see, especially. in I mean, how many closeted Republicans. are there? A lot. Many. A lot. >> You know, I'm an actor. I don't talk. about my parents in therapy. I talk. about my agent. [laughter] You know what. I mean? Like all the success I've had, you can trace it all back to my parents. just loving the hell out of me. >> Did you come out to them or did they. always know? >> I literally said, "Dad, come on. All. those Madonna concerts, the Barbara. Stryand [laughter] concerts you took me. to, the Broadway shows, I said to them, you guys had to know." And my dad looked.

at me and said, "We discussed the. possibility." [laughter]. >> All right. Joining us today on iHip News. is Billy Iikner. So, let's take a break. from all the [ __ ] And he is an. actor, comedian, writer, producer, and. author of a new fantastic audio book. called Billy on Billy, an audio memoir. Billy Iikner, how are you? >> Hi, I'm great. Thanks for having me. back. >> Yes. Yes. I want to show a video in case. by chance any of my viewers or listeners. live under a rock.

>> Sure. >> And they don't know what Billy on the. Street is. Okay. >> So, Kylie, will you play the clip? >> What? >> Who are you? >> I'm Billy Iikner. >> And Okay. All right. So, and is this. like TV or. >> Yeah, this is like television. Yeah. >> What television? >> Like Billy on the street? >> Oh, okay. So, are you an internet thing? >> Uh, no. It's actually a TV thing and an. internet thing. >> I don't like your attitude. >> Okay. I don't like yours. I'm on TV. >> Who Who gives a [ __ ] Who gives a [ __ ]. about you, [ __ ] [laughter]. >> You know, that was shot right. downstairs. >> I love How much fun did you have doing.

that? >> Um, a lot. I mean, it required a lot of. energy. Um, and a lot of commitment. You. can't really halfass Billy on the. street. >> Um, but it's also fun and I love how. much people love it. The people that. love it really love it. Um, and uh, yeah, it's really unlike anything else. one could possibly do. It's such a. unique experience. And you were born and. raised in New York City. >> That's right. >> And if you if one were to watch Fox. News, they would think that this is like. a socialist crimeridden hellscape.

>> So, how did you turn out so well? >> I know. It's a miracle. And I I grew up. in Queens. I went to high school in. Manhattan and which mean in lower. Manhattan, which means I took an hour. and 15 minute subway ride each way back. from school by myself every day. Well, sometimes with friends, sometimes by. myself. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> what age would you do that? So, uh, it. was high school, so I don't know, how. old was I? 14, 15, 16, around there. And, um, but I loved it. I mean, New. York really informed like everything. about who I am and so much of my work, obviously. And, um, it's a huge part of.

my existence. And a lot of the book is. about, you know, how much growing up in. New York City really shaped me in, I. think, a pretty wonderful way and in a. very unique way. >> You know, um, I grew I was born in. Dallas, but grew up in Oklahoma City. And you always hear people say, you. know, it's a great place to raise a. family and I was raised there and I. raised my kids there. >> However, it's void of a lot of. multiculturalism, >> right, >> and culture. >> and it's they're very carentric.

>> towns which you miss out on so much. cooperating and compromising with other. human beings. I've recently moved to New. York. You're. >> right. I know. Welcome. >> Thank you. And I think it's better for. your happy factor to have to every day. >> New York is an equalizer. >> Like if you're rich, if you're poor, if. you're black, if you're white, if you're. gay, if you're straight, if you're. trans, if you're wearing panties or. you're naked. That's right. [snorts]. >> You have to walk on the streets. Nobody. can avoid it. Yeah. >> And it's a complete equalizer. Is that. what your experience has been here?

>> Yes. And I think that's why it. influenced me so much because you do not. have an isolated existence. A lot of. people grow up in the suburbs and. they're pretty isolated. They live. around like-minded people, people who. look pretty much exactly the same way. they do. I don't want to make. generalizations, but if we're going to. make one, that tends to be true from. what I've heard from people who grew up. in the suburbs or or, you know, smaller. towns. And I grew up surrounded by. everyone. Everyone I like I said, I took. the subway to high school every day. If. you're on the subway, you're seeing.

every type of person in the world. people from all over the world that are. visiting or who have moved here. Immigrants from all over. It's a city of. immigrants. You know, I grew up in the. burrow of Queens, which is, I think, one. of the most diverse places in the world. Um, >> is Donald Trump from Queens? >> Yes, he is. Like I said, it's very. diverse. >> Did you ever bump into him? >> Uh, did not know. Never bumped into. Donald Trump. Um, but my parents were. not wealthy like his parents were. Um, but uh, so you're just exposed to so.

much from the time you're a very young. person. And so I'm not saying New. Yorkers don't have their biases like. every other human. We're still human, you know, we're not perfect, but um, we're a lot more open, you know, and a. lot more I would I would say it's beyond. tolerance. It's we really pride. ourselves on the diversity in the city, um, and on being exposed to culture from. all over the world. And you know, my. parents took me to see plays when I was. a kid. And and plays sometimes that were.

really meant for a more sophisticated. audience than children, but they didn't. care. They knew I could handle it, that. I loved it. You know, they took I I talk. about this a lot, but I think the fact. that I grew up in New York in the 80s. and 90s, long before social media and. the internet could expose you to all. these different things, no matter where. you were, um I was exposed to things. just by the nature of living here. And. my parents also being native New Yorkers. were not scared. Not scared to take me. to a play about gay men. Not scared to.

uh uh support my interest in culture, things that were associated with gay men. even from a young age. And that made me. confident. You know, this is my whole. book is a love letter to my parents. and. the fact there that their default mode. was always to love me and and and. encourage me to pursue my dreams and. encourage me to be me. They let me be. me. And I think a lot of the reason they. were not scared to do that is because. they themselves were native New Yorkers.

and had also grown up like I grew up. exposed to everything and anything in. the world. And so they weren't scared of. things they didn't know. You know, I. think New York is a place that breaks. your give a [ __ ] meter. >> And I think that's healthy. >> When you give a [ __ ] about petty things, >> it makes you toxic and unhealthy. And. when I since moving here last fall, >> and I think about what's going on. politically, nationally right now. And. you know, there's Steven Miller who I.

mean, clearly has like white nationalist. ambitions. >> And it seems like your childhood in this. city is the antidote. Mhm. >> is the answer is the solution to that. It is it is a breathing movable main. character in everybody's life. This city. that shows you that cooperation and. compromise and multiculturalism. really works and your parents loving you. through all that. I you wrote this. amazing uh part of your memoir and I. wanted you to read it to my listeners.

and viewers to kind of get them into. what your memoir is about. >> because I feel like we're entering this. era right now where everything is toxic. like toxic masculinity. Now there's like. the toxic femininity with Erica Kirk and. that [ __ ] show. You know these women. that are running around kind of ready to. breed and all this stuff. >> Yeah. Now I can. >> I know [laughter]. >> and they are trying to take ownership in. parenting that somehow they do it better. or they're better breeders. >> And this is something that's been around.

forever. And. >> people that have gay kids understand a. type of radical love. >> that I equally think is the antidote. >> to the toxic uh government and all of. the stuff they're pushing. So will you. read this for my listeners? >> Sure. And I will say, you know, I don't. think it's so radical. >> I don't either. >> I don't think it's radical. You know, this radical love, this radical. acceptance. I know what people mean by. that, and I appreciate it, of course, but I don't think it's so radical to. just love your kid, to love your trans.

kid, to love your non-binary kid, or to. love your kid who's still figuring it. out. You know, to love your kid that's. interested or passionate about something. that you weren't prepared to have to. know about. Do you know what I mean? So. I I don't think that's radical and and. so and again so much of my parents so. much of my book uh is is literally about. this. I was not the child. I don't think. my parents both passed away. I should. say that my father died 15 years ago. right before Billy on the Street became.

a TV show. My mother died when I was 20. years old when I was in college. Um and. so she missed my whole adult life. And. yet, and that part's sad, of course, but. while they were around, they really uh. nurtured me and let me be me and and. never tried to get me to be anything. other than who I was and never tried to. get me to be passionate or interested. about something I wasn't interested in. And so, this is an example of that. This. is from chapter 5 in my book. Um, this. chapter is focused primarily on my dad.

and it's called My Dad. and it's about. something that happened when I was in. fourth grade, which is a long time ago. for me. Okay. When I was in fourth grade, I took up a. new extracurricular activity. Was it. soccer, you ask? Perhaps the spelling. bee? No, it was something even gayer and. nerdier than spelling bee, if you can. imagine. I participated in my school's. storytelling contest. Except for one. other boy, the other competitive.

storytellers were all girls. Being the. little performer I always was, it suited. me well to stand on a stage and. dramatically tell a short story. And it. really rang my bell to figure out how to. do this better than everyone else. I. performed The Night andale, a classic. children's story by Hans Christian. Anderson. I won the first contest at my. own school which allowed me to advance. to the district level competition. It. was there on a Saturday morning that I.

stood on the stage in a very large, mostly empty school auditorium in front. of the dozen or so parents and three. judges who were the only ones to show up. to watch us. And I killed. [laughter]. And when the judges got up to announce. the winner and they said, "The winner is. Billy Iikner." Jay Iikner, my father, usually a stoic man of few words and. never that visibly emotional one way or. the other, immediately leapt to his. feet, threw his fist up in the air. triumphantly, and in this mostly empty,

cavernous school auditorium, shouted out. very loudly, "WAY TO GO!" AS IF I HAD. just thrown a buzzer beater in the last. seconds of a championship basketball. game or scored a winning touchdown when. all I had done is won the fourth grade. storytelling contest. His big bellowing. Bronxorn voice bounced off the walls and. echoed off the vast dark span of empty. seats in the school auditorium on a. Saturday morning in Queens. And he. stayed on his feet beaming. This was.

when I was in fourth grade in 1986. I'm. 47 years old now, but I can still hear. him saying those words. There's a Steven. Sonheim song, Children Will Listen, in. the finale of the musical Into the. Woods. A show about parents and. children. About how adults have to. remember that children listen more than. you think. They listen and learn and. remember everything you say and do. They. retain everything. And that way to go I.

have retained for the rest of my life. Now sometimes my parents took their love. and encouragement a step too far. Because I won the district storytelling. competition. I advanced to the next. level to perform my story in the Queens. Burrow wide storytelling contest. And. yet again, my father attended with the. pride of someone who was watching his. son play quarterback at the Super Bowl. [laughter].

Except this time, I fumbled the football. by stumbling over a few words in my. story. And you cannot stumble over your. words in a storytelling contest. I ended. up coming in fifth place, losing out to. a girl named Jenny Pthconathon. That was. her name. I still remember it. who at. one point in her performance paused for. a suspiciously long time while staring. hard at her mother in the audience. She. had clearly forgotten her next line. There was some speculation among the.

other contestants that her mother had. mouthed the word she was forgetting, which was of course considered cheating, and yet she was given second place. anyway. And the girl who took first. prize happened to be from that same. district where the competition was held. Well, my father thought this was very. suspicious. [laughter]. I was just mad at myself for stumbling. over the words, and I stormed out of the. auditorium, telling my parents to start. the car so we could just get out of. there. I blamed myself, but not my.

father. He ranted all the way home in. the car about the travesty that these. [laughter] girls had beaten me, that. they had cheated, that the competition. was rigged to favor the girl from her. own district. My dad was like one of. those stop the steel guys but about. [laughter] the 1988 Queensboro. storytelling contest. IT WAS FIXED. HE. shouted and I finally had to shout from. the back seat to quiet him. You don't. have to make excuses for me. I just. lost. I was disappointed in myself but I.

wasn't about to blame the other. contestants even if they had cheated. Plus to be honest I really didn't care. I just wanted to go home and eat a bagel. and watch TV. But Jay Iikner had. accepted enough defeat in his own life. So when it came to me, he refused to. accept defeat and was particularly. sensitive about me not having the same. opportunities and advantages that a kid. from a richer, more powerful, more. well-connected family might have.

>> That is really, really beautiful and. funny. And what stuck with me about this. is that even though your parents left. you early, >> Mhm. >> that their love was so robust. >> and so unconditional that it still. sustains you so much and defines so much. of who you are. >> Yes, it really does. And it's, you know, I'm in show business. It's a hard. business. It's especially hard if you're. gay, but it's hard for everyone, you. know. Um, it's very cutthroat. There's a.

lot of competition. It's a constant. like, you know, like a battle against. your own ego and, you know, your own. sense of selfworth and and all of that. stuff. But this resilience that I've. had, um, I when I sat down to write the. book, I thought, where did it come from? Where did the confidence to be Billy on. the street come from? To pursue my. dreams, to always be out. I was always. out from the time I started 25 years. ago, right? Um, in comedy, and there. weren't a lot of outgay men in comedy at.

the time. Now things have evolved but. you know it was it was more unique at. that time and it when I sat down I. realized I thought about my childhood. I. thought about the love they gave me. um. the self-respect they instilled in me by. taking my passion for performing and for. entertainment and for the arts. seriously, you know, and it all the. success I've had, you can trace it all. back to my parents just loving the hell. out of me and letting me be gay and. taking me to the gay Olympics when I.

was, you know, in 1994 and just taking. me to see Madonna concerts when I was 12. years old and like taking me to see. plays like I said about gay men or just. about adults in general, people in. general, you know, they respected me. even as a kid. They knew that I I must. care about these things deeply for a. reason that it meant a lot to me that it. wasn't just a hobby to watch Madonna, you know. It was like it was it was uh. nurturing something in my little like.

you know performing arts creative brain. you know and um everything I've had like. I like you said even in their absence. their love anchors me that in the book. and helps me get over disappointments. even in middle age right and helps me to. persevere and to keep going and to trust. my instincts and to know that I belong. and that I am I am worthy of success if. I'm lucky enough to to get it. >> Did you come out to them or did they.

always know? >> Well, I think they always knew. And I. tell the coming out story in the book. Um I did come out to them. I I finally. officially came out to them when I was. 20 when I was in college. >> Okay. >> Uh but I said to my dad, I said, "Dad, cuz he did in spite of the fact that he. absolutely knew who I was. He did the. typical parent thing, you know, it was. still the late 90s, too." And he said. like, "Are you sure it's not a phase or. anything?" And I was like, "Dad," I. literally said, "Dad, come on. All those. Madonna concerts, the Barbara [laughter]. Spry concerts, you took me to the. Broadway shows." I said to them, "You.

guys had to know." And my dad looked at. me and said, "We discussed the. possibility [laughter] in his like Bronx. voice." You know, he was an older guy, too. He was already in his late 60s at. this point. Um, and and that's what he. said. So, they absolutely knew and they. never ever. made me feel uncomfortable about it. You. know, my therapist said to me recently, we were talking about the show Heated. Rivalry, okay? >> Right. And Heated Rivalry, which is. about two closeted, very masculine uh.

hockey players. Closet professional. hockey players. I'm sure you've heard. about it, and it's a great show. I loved. it. It's very sexy and it's, you know, intriguing and romantic um and all these. great things. But [snorts] I was talking. to my therapist about how much the idea. of the closet being in the closet still. after all these decades still resonates. with people, you know, that it's still a. very effective storytelling device to. keep your characters closeted and then. hopefully they come out of the closet,

right? Um, and I I I found that very. fascinating because in a way I've never. been closeted, you know, and a big part. of that is that I got to grow up with. Jay and Debbie Iikner as my parents and. that I got to grow up in New York City, right? Which taught me to that there was. a place in the world for me from a young. age, >> right? And to not be scared. And my. therapist said to me, you know, you. underestimate the amount of shame that. gay men walk around with, >> even gay adults who maybe have been out.

of the closet for a long time. And she. said to me, "You had a very unique. childhood," she said. And you know, not. that I don't have any shame about. anything, but I've never really had. shame about being gay. And I've always. thought it was a very exciting thing to. be and a very I always thought gay men. were at uh especially back in the 80s. and 90s. I don't know if this is so true. anymore, the more we've been kind of uh. assimilated into [laughter] society, but. like we were at the forefront of culture. and of fashion and of theater and of. music and even if we weren't on camera.

at the time, we were behind the scenes. And I followed all of that like a hawk. when I was a kid and I loved it and I. just I couldn't wait to like, you know, when you're when you grew up in Queens. or outside of Manhattan, you're so close. yet so far. Yeah. To the big city. And I. just couldn't wait. I always knew I was. like, I'm going to be a gay man in the. arts, in the city, and that's what I. always wanted to be. And my parents. always wanted that for me, too. >> So, obviously, now we have multiple I. mean, I think it's we're into a thousand.

pieces of legislation, >> uh, anti-LGBTQ plus pieces of. legislation. And ironically, >> uh, President Trump, I say, is in his. deathbed confession era. M. >> So, you know, like if you went to go see. your grandma or something in the nursing. home and she's old, you'd be like, "Billy, I always liked you a lot better. than your little sister. I always. thought she was a [ __ ] right?" They. just start Well, much to my surprise, Trump is saying all this bisexual/gay. stuff. >> Every single time Billy he's on TV.

lately, he cannot quit talking about how. hot. >> he thinks men are. [laughter] And we. have. >> seen this. >> We have a clip uh here that I want to. play for you. Play this, Kylie. >> He was in a hotel and I met him and we. fell in love, deeply in love. We didn't. know each other before that. We had. great chemistry. [laughter] and we I stayed twice as long. as I was supposed to. So,

he's the most beautiful [music] looking. man. He looks so nice. He's like an. angel to me. >> Somebody I've gotten to know very well. and he is a handsome sucker. If I could. come down and start kissing everybody, I'll kiss every guy. >> Okay. So, you you brought up that the. gay people in the 80s and 90s were. aspirational to you. >> And I would say that even me growing up. in the Bible belt, because I grew up as. an atheist in the Bible belt. A lot of. my gay friends had to grow up with. really crazy Christian people. And so,

the people that didn't like me for being. an atheist, and the people that didn't. like the gay guys were the same people. So, when I went to college, I went with. gay people. [snorts] and having gay. friends back in the early 90s in the. Bible belt was almost like being friends. with a celebrity. >> There was this aura about it, this. liberation. >> that uh gay people experienced. So you. you grew up in Queens, he grew up in a. far more closeted. >> era, but his his mentor Roy Conn. >> deeply a self-loathing gay man.

>> Self-loathing gay man. And now that we. the dementia and his give a [ __ ] meter. is just completely broken. and he knows. he avoided prison. >> I just think for the movement that is so. wrapped up into all of this toxic. masculinity. >> We've got this old queen running for the. White House. It's unbelievable. >> Absolutely. Trump Trump grew up I mean. maybe not when he was a child, but Trump. went to Studio 54. You know, he loved. Broadway. Trump She talks about how much. he loved the musical Cats and [laughter].

how much he loved Phantom of the Opera. tastes of New York. and um I don't you know he has I mean. he's disgusting. He has weaponized. you know hatred. um or a lack of compassion or. understanding about LGBTQ people and. let's be honest specifically trans. people more than anyone. He has.

weaponized that in order to. make money, you know, uh remain in power. and just scare people, scare his base, right? So that he can secretly be, you. know, you know, making deals that are. illegal and, you know, exploiting the. presidency for all you can exploit it. for, obviously, for wealth and for power. and real estate and all of that. And so, but yeah, this screw I mean, I mean, whatever this guy, I don't even know. It's hard to even know what to say about.

him at this point. He's obviously just. uh he's just a pathological liar. You. know, >> he is. But why why I'm bringing this up. with what you wrote in your book is I. think about the symptoms of all of the. stuff they're doing and I think about. the antidote. I think about this. juxtaposition all the time. >> and. >> those moments with your dad to me, I. don't ever think about gender in terms. of oh that's so masculine or oh that's. so feminine. But MAGA does all the time. >> To me, this is a beautiful traditional.

family by their definition. >> Who radically and unconditionally love. their son. >> By the way, my dad was much older than. my mom. My dad was in the Korean War. He. was a veteran. >> Yeah. >> Um, you know, this he was from the. Bronx, you know, he loved the Yankees. He loved sports. He also loved. entertainment on Broadway, you know, because we were like a New York family, you know, but but he was a very, you. know, on the face of it, conventional. straight man, like older straight man. who I think was probably not planning to.

have a gay son, especially a gay son who. ran around belting out, you know, Whitney Houston and Barbara Stryson. [laughter] songs from the time I could. breathe essentially. And he was the. first one applauding, you know, would. sit in the living room and cuz I was a. really good singer as a kid, you know, maybe if I wasn't a good singer, he. would have been like, "Shut the [ __ ]. up." But like I was good. And he took me. to voice lessons. And when I said I. wanted to be a child actor, it wasn't. him dragging me there. It was me. dragging him to take me to the. auditions, but he did. And like I said, you know, he would applaud when I sang.

in the living room. you know, he would. take me to every movie that I wanted to. see that probably maybe wasn't. appropriate for me because he knew how. much it meant to me as a young artist. who was just trying to be exposed to. like different ideas and different. actors. And so, but like I said, on the. face of it, a very conventional straight. old white man, >> right? you know, and um and like I said, the fact that he loved me as much as he. did, uh it it's it explains all of my.

success. And even when I get into my 20s. and early 30s and my career still isn't. taking off and he does start to get. worried for me just from a financial. basis, like what are you going to do? What's going to happen with your life? Like, you know, and I was a little. worried, too. He's still he's he knew. how much it meant to me to like keep. going and keep trying to like make this. dream happen. And he kept saying, "You. got to stick with it. You got to stick. with it." And by the way, he was coming. to see in my live shows, my live comedy. shows in the early 2000s. I am on stage. shouting about how much I love anal sex.

I mean, I was outrageous. It would be outrageous now. And it was. particularly loud and outrageous and. gay. So bluntly, matterof factly gay. >> And he, as long as the audience was. laughing, he was laughing. You know, he. would have had a problem with it if I. wasn't funny because he would have been. like, "You're in the wrong business and. you're delusional." Yeah. But I was. funny. The audience laughed and he would. sit there cracking up. I'm on stage.

going on and on about anal sex. And he. before the show would walk around in the. audience and show people my baby picture. and go up to complete strangers, not. people that knew me, strangers who were. coming to see me as fans. And he would. go up to them and say, "You see this? This is Billy. I'm the father. >> Oh, >> right. And then they watch the show and. I'm like ranting and raving about. Broadway and celebrities and gay culture. and gay life. There used to be a clip in. my show where I would show gay porn.

clips and on a screen and then in front. of it talk about how we were like. everyone else and deserve marriage. equality before we had marriage. equality. And he would sit there and. watch this and um was completely was so. proud. >> Did you feel inhibited at all with him. being in the audience? I mean, you know, I'm a human. I would be a little. uncomfortable, but I always if I thought. something was funny, I went for it. And. [snorts] it was important to me to be as. bold as I was and to be as matterof fact. as I was. And the reason I didn't think. that was, now I always say I never.

experienced much homophobia as a kid in. New York. I didn't experience real. homophobia until I was an adult in. Hollywood. And then all of a sudden. people start telling you, you know, the. gay thing, all that stuff. It's a very. unique thing when you grow up in New. York. Um, [snorts]. and uh, but the reason I felt okay about. going on stage and being out from the. beginning, like 25 years ago, and. talking about sex and gay culture and. gay life is because I was raised again.

by a mother and father and in a city. where being gay was just part of life. It wasn't wasn't a big deal or not a big. deal. It was just very matterof fact. >> It's void of shame. Exactly. >> And my gay friends in the Bible belt, Billy, the shame. >> that they feel, their first bullies, the. their first judgers are their parents. And ironically, all these people are. rightwing Christians, right?

>> Who are birthing gay and trans kids, and. they are their first bullies. >> But it's not just the gay um sexuality. that people have shamed. There's so much. sexual shame outside of New York City. and Puritan culture. Uh, purity puritan. puritanical culture. >> And everything that I hear you say is. >> so much bigger than your personal story. It's like this idea of the American. dream is freedom is true freedom. Unttethered from shame.

>> And as you tell all of these things, you. might have felt a little inhibited, but. you never felt shame. You never felt. like your dad was going to look at you. as less than or that you should be. embarrassed about yourself. >> And then you juxtapose that with what. we're dealing with nationally right now. because it's more it's not even. political to me what Trump's doing. It's. moral. >> Mhm. >> It's abusive. He's abusing everybody. That's right. And he abuses his own. kids. And here's, you know, if everybody. loved their kids the way Jay and what.

was Debbie? >> Debbie. Jay and Debbie. Yes. Jay and. Debbie Aikner loved you, but they don't. And a lot of broken people, particularly. narcissists, project a lot of stuff on. their kids. And they see their kids in. as an extension of their own identity. >> And if the kids don't live up to it, they discard them. And here's uh Donald. Trump talking about Don Jr.'s wedding. You know, he just got married, >> right? >> Having your son's wedding this weekend, by the way? >> Uh he'd like me to go, but it's going to.

be just a small little private affair. and I'm going to try and make it. I'm. I'm in the midst. I said, you know, this. is not good timing for me. >> Pause it real quick and leave that. Do. you see this guy with the belly in the. Audi? >> Mhm. Oh my god. >> I mean, this guy is all about image, right? Before we even get to what a. shitty daddy is, but this guy's really. good at like optics, >> even though it's trashy optics. But. that's hilarious that that's in the. sighteline. But I mean I I don't have.

empathy really for Donald Trump, Donald. Trump Jr., >> but I do think a lot of this MAGA. movement are a lot of men who feel shame. >> and weren't fully loved by their. parents, >> right? It all comes back to this. >> Yes. And that's why I wanted to put um. the story about my childhood out in the. world because it is unusual. But there. is another way, you know, and I just. keep getting from people who've listened. to the book. You can go on my Instagram.

and see all the comments that, you know, you put something out in the world. I'm. mostly known for comedy. I'm not a. parenting expert. I have no children of. my own. But the reactions we're getting, you can just you can look in the. comments under any post about my book on. Instagram. is from parents, parents of. young kids, people thinking about being. parents saying, "Oh my god, I want to be. Jay and Debbie Iikner for my kid. I want. to support my kid. I want to love my gay. kid." Or even my straight kid, you know, depend, you know, if they have interests. that aren't in line with what your. interests are, you have to let your kid.

be your kid. And so so much of the anger. we see, especially in I mean, how many. closeted Republicans are there? A lot. Many. A lot. you know, and we make jokes. about it, but it's actually sad and it's. [ __ ] up and and look at what uh Brian. Gnome. >> Oh, Big Titty Brian. >> Big Titty Brian. And we and that is a. delicious story, but also is sad. And. look, we don't know who what he is. really or how he would identify if he. could if he could identify however he. wanted to. We don't really know. But. it's certainly not what they preach,

right? You know, it's exactly what they. preach against, you know, and they hate. themselves because somewhere along the. way, parents, a religious institution, their town, culture, the movies they. watch, the people they hung out with. taught them to hate themselves, you. know, and I was taught to respect myself. and love myself. And I I wish that for. more kids, you know, like you said, if. more if more kids could be raised by. parents like Jay and Debbie Iikner, uh.

the world would be a better place, you. know, and I'm not so perfect. That's not. about that. Um but like you said, I. didn't carry shame, and it's because I. was not taught to hate the parts of. myself that were unconventional. >> It the shame thing is is key for me. My. husband is in recovery from uh uh. opiates and alcohol and so I had to go. to many family weeks. >> and it all boils down to when you get. into these situations where people are. broken and damaged inner child issues. >> and I've sat in so many family week.

circles and had to write a a letter to. little Jennifer and my non-dominant. hand, you know, because. >> the question ultimately was like, why. did you pick him? >> What in you is broken that you picked. him? you know, and so there's a lot of. work that can be done even as an adult. if you didn't have a Jay and Debbie. Igner. And my parents are still alive. and they're wonderful, >> but I really felt like your book, these. cultural books and these cultural things. happen in moments that we need them.

>> And I I just don't really see all that. [ __ ] that's going on. Yes, it he's in a. political setting, but I think it's a. moral collapse. And there are are. thought leaders that are coming out with. beacons and ways to help people find. their way home. And that's why I thought. this was so important to have you on, especially Pride Month. >> And so if Jay and Debbie Igner were in. Queens right now. >> and you had a float on the Pride parade, would they be on that float with you?

>> Oh, absolutely. Oh, yeah. I mean, they. would have been on that float with me. years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago. Um, I uh I'm thinking about how in 1994. I already loved the theater and wanted. to be an actor and but I was a little. young to intern at a theater and one of. the only theaters that had interns for. high school aged interns was this. theater that happened to be very queer. centric and put on a lot of plays about.

LGBTQ people. And I talk about this in. the book and I interned for them one. summer and they wanted me I made that. reference to the gay Olympics. They do. this thing called the gay games which. nowadays it's maybe not quite as. necessary. You could not be an out. athlete and compete in the Olympics. right in the '9s. I mean it was. impossible and there was you know. there's a famous story about Greg. Luganis and all of that. We won't get. into it right now. >> But uh very hard to be an out athlete. Still very hard to be an out athlete. So.

they did a thing called the gay games. and [snorts] this theater that I. interned for wanted me to go to the gay. games and hand out flyers to promote the. show that was happening at the theater. which happened to be a concert from a. black lesbian country singer named Pam. Kansas, right? And I was like 13 or 14. years old. And I told my parents, now. I'm not out yet officially. And I told. my parents, "Hi, you know, I I need to. go into the city into the village this. weekend and hand out flyers at the gay. games.

by myself." [laughter] And they said, "Okay." They said, "We're going to we're. going to drive you and we're just going. to sit in the car next to the park. We're going to leave you alone. We want. to just make sure you're okay." And they. watched me hand out flyers at the gay. games. I remember vividly. It was the. first time I ever saw a man wearing like. leather, like a leather daddy. Oh yeah. It was in broad daylight on a Sunday. afternoon in 1994 and I'm like 14 years. old and this guy comes along in like. full leather regalia walking his dog. I. thought he was in some kind of weird.

costume and now I know what that is, you. know. [laughter] But I'm a kid and my. parents are watching this all happen. And they just sat there in the car in. their Buick and they waited for me to. make sure I was okay. And then when I. was done, I got back in the car and we. drove home and it was all perfectly. fine. It was if I had gone to a baseball. game, you know, or if I had like played. on my little league game or something. more typical that boys would do. And. like I said, they just they wanted me to.

be safe, but they let me be me, you. know, and and I just think that it is. you [snorts] could even a little thing. like that, which you wouldn't even think. I would remember, but here I am and. decades later, I feel I'm so grateful. that they were like that, you know, and. that's why I wrote this tribute to them. because not a lot of kids get that and. I'm very grateful. Um and um they taught. me to to love myself. >> All right, last question. A lot of time.

that I've spent in therapy has been. about gratitude. >> Mhm. >> And so. after writing this, how did that impact. you mentally, physically, your. well-being after how therapeutic was. this for you? Because probably all the. points were disjointed before. >> That's right. >> But then all of a sudden they're in one. camera and film and then you pull it. [snorts] all out right in front of you. What is the after product of this? How. therapeutic was this for you? >> Oh god, it it really has been comforting.

in ways I didn't expect, you know, um in. so many ways. It's almost hard to. articulate in multiple ways. It put me, again, my parents are gone and they've. been gone a long time. My mother missed. my entire adult life. They both missed. all the exciting things that happened in. this career that they that they knew I. wanted so badly and that they wanted so. much for me. Um, [snorts]. but it put me in conversation with my. parents again. I'm not someone, and I'm. in therapy and all that, but you know, I'm an actor. I don't talk about my.

parents in therapy. I talk about my. agent. You know what I mean? Like, I. don't I I knew I had a really great. childhood and that I was very lucky. So, I don't sit around thinking specifically. or talking about them necessarily. [snorts]. And also, it would be a little sad to. constantly think about them and what. they missed. But the book gave me a. reason to do that. And although I've you. know, of course, I've shed some tears. about it. But for the most part, it has. it it has it has been such a comfort to.

spend time with them again. You know, it's been very warm. And it also kind of. put me back in touch with this childlike. sense of wonder I had about the world in. general that we have as kids that we. lose. You know, um my love of pop. culture, my love of movies, of theater. I still have it but you know when it. becomes your business and your life you. know you're it's different you know so. it put me back in touch with all these. really wonderful warm parts of my. childhood and also to now cuz now the. book's been out a little over a month so.

I you never know what people are going. to take away from the work you put out. and I am just seeing comments and. they're not about Billy on the street. the later parts of the book talk about. my career and I had this friendship with. Joan Rivers who was like a mentor to me. and the celebrities I've worked with and. all that stuff, but the heart of the. book is about my childhood and my. parents and the things that people are. talking about. I'm telling you, it's. just comment after comment, direct. messages on Instagram, reviews on. Audible from parents saying, parents who. clearly are strangers. They don't know.

my parents and and all of them are. saying, "Oh my god, I want to be Jay and. Debbie Iikner for my kid." And so to. hear. to to to think about the fact that. decisions my parents made in the 80s and. 90s these two random people middle class. people in Queens, New York, they were. not an entertainment. They were 9 toive. people. They took the subway to work. every day. My mom worked for the phone. company. My dad was like a tax auditor, right? But the decisions they made to.

love me and to encourage me to pursue my. dreams, they were just wildly devoted to. my happiness and my contentment. And to. see that their default mode was to love. me always and to encourage me to to. chase after my dreams. And they always. made me feel like I had a shot. And to. see those decisions they made as parents. now reverberating 30, 40 years later to.

complete strangers and see that that. might have an impact a little bit at. least on how they raised their kid, their gay kid, their straight kid, whoever it might be. A kid that they. were that has interests that they. weren't expecting their kid to have, whatever it might be. That's really. powerful. I did not expect that. And it. is it is really profound. And I don't. even think it's not me doing it. I'm. just a messenger for for my parents. essentially. And um and I don't even. think they ever sat down and made a.

decision, you know, like they weren't. like self-help parenting. [laughter]. They this is just like who they were. They they were like, "We wanted to be. happy. Like this is what makes him. happy. Like what can we do to make him. happy?" and you know when I was a kid. And so to see those decisions that they. made having this effect decades later on. on strangers, other parents and other. kids, that's wild to me. That's really. amazing. And it and it not to sound. cheesy, but it has been a reminder. You. know, you can be in Hollywood and you.

get jaded and you want success and you. want this and you're we're all comparing. ourselves to the other people we see on. social media and we're all going crazy. all the time and there's so much anxiety. in the world. But like this has reminded. me of why of why I'm why I'm an artist. Like why I'm a creative person. This is. why you do what you do. This is why well. I should say this is why I do what I do, you know. And it's not about fame and. it's not about money. It's actually. having an emotional like palpable impact. on people. It's really moving people.

And um I've mostly made people laugh. like Billy on the street. It's like a. kind of a a joy bomb. It's like jokes. and that's great. I think there's. meaning in that too in its own weird. way. But this is really uh having an. emotional impact on people and it's. about parents and children. It's so. universal and that's really been very. touching to witness. >> I completely agree and again I think. it's just such an antidote to the toxic. culture that everybody is cultivating.

and it's so simple. So listener please. go. This is an audio memoir because as. you can tell this wallflower next to me. has no problem. >> Yeah. Sorry. Trying to talk your ear. off. >> No, I love it. >> Cut it all out. [laughter] Cut it down. >> Go download Billy on Billy to support. Billy. Billy, happy Pride. >> Happy Pride. Thank you for having me. back. >> I'm so glad you came on. >> and welcome back to Welcome to New York. I. >> Thank you. I love it here.