WATCH: Billy Porter says 'we're already in a civil war' over trans rights

Billy Porter declared there is a civil war underway in the US over trans rights in an episode of The View Tuesday.

Porter, an actor, singer, writer and LGBTQ+ activist, had appeared on The View last July to discuss Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s stance on drag performances for children, and host Joy Behar asked the flamboyant performer what he made of the fact that the issue was still being discussed, and had spread to other states.

“There’s this war against trans people,” said Behar.

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

Behar then asked why he thought this was happening, and Porter responded, “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!” he continued, in a state of increasing agitation. “They’re guns!”

“I know it’s the morning and I’m not supposed to be screaming, but they’re guns, not drag queens. Leave us alone.”

The leading cause of death among people ages 1-19 is unintentional accidents, per the CDC.

The so-called “war against trans people” being discussed is a combination of laws seeking to prohibit doctors from performing experimental sex changes on minors, laws aimed at banning sexualised drag performances for children, and moves to protect female-only sports and spaces from male intrusion.

Porter then went on to explain it is all a purposeful distraction, so that people 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,” the singer continued, not a little incoherently.

“What are we talking about and what are we doing? And everyone’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,” declared Porter. “They’re messing with our minds. We’re already in it."

This declaration was met with encouragement from co-host Sunny Hostin, after Porter had apologized for getting “so riled up.”

“But you’re making the right points,” said Hostin. Behar then joined in praising the baffling rant by saying, “a civil war of the mind is a very good point,” which was accompanied by Porter gesturing to his own forehead and reiterating, “it’s already here.”