Harvey Fierstein Statement.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 3:39pm

Lets try this again.


Posted November 7, 2008 | 02:35 PM (EST)

"Historic for Some, Same Old SH*T for the Rest of Us
By Harvey Fierstein

While we dance in the streets and pat ourselves on the back for being a nation great enough to reach beyond racial divides to elect our first African-American president let us not forget that we remain a nation still proudly practicing prejudice.

I have heard this day described as one of transcendence where Americans came together to prove that we are, above all, a nation of fairness. World witnesses wrote that we rose above ideology, politics and bigotry to achieve a great moment for America. Meanwhile, on this same Election Day, we great Americans passed laws as heinous as any Jim Crow legislation. We great Americans reached out and willfully put our name to language that denies an entire minority group their equal rights.

Of course I am referring to the states of Florida, Arizona and California passing legislation to specifically deny gay people from entering into the contract of marriage. Actually, that's not true. We can still get married, just not to each other. Yes my friends, Florida and California have now made it legal for gay men and lesbians to marry as long as we don't marry our partners. How much sense does that make?

Now, before you rise up on your high horse to holler, "We're not against Civil Unions, just Gay Marriage", let me once again explain that THE SUPREME COURT HAS STATED THAT SEPARATE BUT EQUAL IS NOT EQUAL. And even if it were, civil unions are simply not equal to marriage.

Let me give you a simple example that anyone can follow. John and Jim are registered as domestic partners and so, just like a married couple; Jim is covered by John's employee health care. That's really nice. BUT... since the IRS does not recognize civil unions or domestic partnership Jim has to pay income tax on the value of this coverage. So, unlike a married couple, John and Jim are penalized hundreds of dollars for not being married. That's not fair. That's not in the spirit of the civil union legislation. And that's just the tip of the iceberg of the inequality being offered.

Listen, my fellow Americans, I am only asking that we get sensible about this controversy. Gays are not asking for religious blessings. We are not asking for everyone to come to our weddings. We are not asking the government to force churches and synagogues to perform marriage rituals or even to allow us into their tax-exempt edifices. We are simply and forcefully demanding equal protection under the laws of this nation as tax paying, voting, property owning citizens. I want no more or less protection than granted any heterosexual to control and distribute my holdings.

State sanctioned marriage is a civil contract period. A contract is not a judgment of moral value. It is a legal agreement between two parties that testifies to a meeting of minds between those consenting entities. It is not a religious act or rite and so has nothing to do with Adam and Eve or Steve or even Harvey. I often say that if you want to really want to understand the contract of marriage just ask anyone who has been divorced. The marriage contract is one of property rights. Or maybe you can look in the bible to see what Adam had to say about divorce since Eve was his second wife.

So, while we rightfully celebrate the election of our first African American president, let us take a moment to mourn the passage of three new laws legalizing prejudice. Of course there will be those who claim that voters were only protecting the institution of marriage to whom I would suggest it is just as likely that Obama's supporters were only voting against 'W'. Breaking the lock on my door doesn't make your home any more secure."

[BNN]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 3:47pm

This only makes me love and appreciate him more.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 3:52pm

Well said, Harvey.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:11pm

His mixture of outrage and an appeal to pragmatism is especially fresh. So much of this discussion is otherwise couched in cliched rehtoric about "sanctity" and other loaded words. Harvey is apalled, but makes a plea to see how non-intrusive into the lives of the heterosexual orthodoxy the granting of these rights would prove to be. We need a national dialogue, and this is a good place to start. Taking to the streets is fine, but so is finding a way to change the narrow minds of fearful people clinging to antequated Rick Santorum-speak ("what's next, sex with animals?")

Updated On: 11/7/08 at 04:11 PM

[blueroses]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:16pm

Or Hasselbeck speak (marriage to toasters and animals).

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:19pm

This is perfect.

[blueroses]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:21pm

I love Harvey Fierstein.

[Q]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:27pm

"We are simply and forcefully demanding equal protection under the laws of this nation as tax paying, voting, property owning citizens."

And there you have it.

[jasonf]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:29pm

As a straight man, I don't understand in the least why the gay community is being denied such a basic right. For all the "end of racism" claptrap I've been hearing lately (let's face it: those didn't vote for Obama for racial reasons are no less racist now than they were a week ago), it amazes me how hypocritical people can be. Until EVERYONE is given the same rights, no matter who the president is, we're no better off in terms of tolerance than we've been throughout our entire history. I have never had ANYONE be able to successfully explain to me how two men or two women getting married to each other will in any way lessen MY marriage next year.

If anything, I think the last eight years in this country has shown us just how pathetic, insecure, and idiotic the vast majority of this country is. To some it seems Obama's win is an erasure of that, but it's not - it's a step in the right direction to be sure, but it's CLEARLY not the end to intolerance.

As I think the general gist of this is clear, I will say that I am so sorry there is so much bigotry and insecurity in the country still. I really hope that one day EVERYONE is afforded the same rights - anything else makes us less than what we have the potential to be.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:40pm

I think it's great, I think it's well written, but I don't think it breaks any ground. Anyone who can think critically understands what he is saying. Anyone who has lived in this country since gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts can see that the world didn't end and that no churches were forced to marry gay people.

Please don't take me as being contrary or trying to piss on this, because I am not, but I just don't know who (besides those of us in the choir) we think are going to listen Harvey Fierstein.

[Q]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 4:47pm

PRS - doesn't mean he shouldn't say it - and maybe someone with a broader reach will be inspired by his words, and take the message 'out of the choir loft'.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 6:46pm

Well, regardless Phyllis, I posted it as a note on Facebook and asked people to pass it along to others. (I even sent it to my staunchly Republican cousin. Yikes!)

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 7:36pm

Now I am really going to see Hairspray again, wait by the stage door and praise him for his comment!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 7:52pm

DAME, I want to send this article to a few people.

Do you have a link to where you found it?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 9:04pm

Forgive me being a wet blanket up there, everyone. It's been a hell of a week.

As I've said from thread to thread, I am really heartened by the reaction of people gay and straight alike (and all the other letters in between). If all can continue to work together, I think we might stand a chance.

[Luscious]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 9:04pm

Here you go, WBAF.
The Huffington Post

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 9:20pm

The power of the pen. So clean, so simple, so powerful.

Harvey Fierstein makes me glad to be gay.

(Not that I need his help, but...)

I'm very proud that he's on "my team."

And for those of you not on "my team" like jasonf, blueroses and so many others here and elsewhere---thank you for being human.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 11:53pm

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=64572550&blogID=447259211

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 11:55pm

Thanks.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 11/7/08 at 11:57pm

Add one more straight man who does not understand how this even made it onto the ballot. It will (hopefully) be defeated easily in the state Supreme Court, and I really hope the IRS seriously looks into the Mormon Church's involvement.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 12:00am

Here's the link to the Huffington Post publishing of it, for those who want to add a comment on there:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harvey-fierstein/historic-for-some-same-ol_b_142170.html

[lusciouslace]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 12:24am

This is really well-stated. I was just having this same discussion with my best friend, who is gay, but he's just starting the process of (finally) coming out. He's just getting to the point where he's comfortable talking about it and I was so happy to have this discussion and let him know that I completely support him and someday will be right beside him when he gets married. I'm with everybody else when they say that they just don't understand how we can continue to deny people their basic rights. It's breaks my heart and just angers me so much to see such blatant discrimination.

[Boq101]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 12:57am

This is why I admire Harvey so much. He realizes he can use his persona to get the word out. He is a great writer and is a person that a teenager like me can look up to.

[boombaboy]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 12:47pm

Harvey Fierstein is a true pioneering hero in the struggle for LGBT civil rights, and I am thankful he is still inspiring us with his wisdom and his talent. THANK YOU, HARVEY!!

[Clayford27]

Posted: 11/8/08 at 8:44pm

That was very well said, as usual. Harvey is amazing.