What a wonderful and loving man Harvey is, we need more people like him in this world. Your interaction with him was so natural and funny. Especially your wink!!! His uniqueness is what makes him so special and so loved by his fans. From musical theatre to movies, Harvey's performances are always award worthy. Thanks Ari, always grateful for all you do for us. Have a great weekend!!!🙏🎹🎤🎼👍
I would add that Harvey is also brave. He’s willing to be authentic and unique. I agree with about the selling of our past the nostalgia of a better time. The truth is it was only better for some. I think democracies have to work for everyone not just a select few. I don’t have a problem when people don’t understand others who love differently. Binary metrics for humans fall short. I object to criminalizing how people love. I work with many who are transitioning and it is complicated and filled with peril and now practically illegal in some areas. These new laws are cruel and wholly inaccurate. It was a thoughtful interview and I appreciate his perspective.
When Harvey said "I love you for your uniqueness, please love me for my uniqueness" in your interview with him, I melted, because this is what life is. The s*** show in Florida and other states breaks my heart. I think about the little ones in school whose families may look very different. And if they are not allowed their uniqueness at such a young age, they are being crushed rather than nurtured in school.
The raw, atavistic hatefulness takes your breath away.
Harvey was right -- no one can actually go backward: these people want to push us into a newer, more insidious and permanent state that "protects" them from whatever might challenge their fundamental(ist) beliefs.
They have powerful political allies and a Supreme Court willing to create "rights" for religion that supersede the rest of us.
The country was founded by wealthy aristocrats for heterosexual white men with property.
That's the "original" that "originalists" want to re-create and preserve.
That's been whittled away somewhat over decades by struggle and sometimes bloodshed.
The right wants to enact new ways to censor, persecute heretics, "witches" and "deviants." It's a potent way to get people to vote against their own interests.
We're going to have to do the sixties all over again, but 21st century style: the BLM marches were just a start. So was the recent Amazon union victory.
it's all part of the same effort to make humanity human.
Love it! 😁 Thanks for the cross-cultural promotions. ✨🏳️🌈✨ America is a wonderful and diverse nation, let's keep it that way. Acceptance of differences is what makes us free! ❤️
Ari, thank you for exposing me to things I never would have learned about, and for making me
more understanding of different kinds of people, and making me want to be a kinder person to everyone. Live and let live and LOVE and LET LOVE for ALL.
Hi Ari and Happy Fri-YAY😃 This week is ending on a good and historic note: we have our first African American woman who is one of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court-Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson (I love the sound of that😃👏🏽) after 232 years history of the Supreme Court.
I listened to the full interview with Harvey Fierstein. Harvey is truly inspiring…what a lovely person he is😃 Everything he stated in the interview was so beautiful. It is hard to believe that he is 70 years old.
I don’t know what to think about GOP anymore - this “Party of Lincoln” is so desperate to return all of us to the Jim Crow era through their ridiculous laws.
Despite our gender and sexuality, we have one thing in common: we are all human that deserve embrace (embrace our differences), love and respect.
Perfection is boring and if we are all the same, life will be boring.
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” - Stephen Covey
Ari, have a nice and relaxing weekend…thanks for your excellent newsletters. I enjoy reading them😃
Hi Sandra!!! What a week!!! April 7, 2022. A historical day filled with so much emotional joy, tears, and pride. So proud of our Senators that made this day possible.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😊
Great and positive article to read on a stressful workday. Mr. Fierstein is a treasure. As a lover of the arts- ballet, Broadway, etc and being gay, I have always looked up to him as a positive role model. I follow his life guidelines- to remain positive. That irritates the hateful people and makes one's own life better. I am so grateful my immigrant parents taught me how to deal with the negative people. These MAGA people are scared and actually jealous of anyone not white and straight. The many people I help via volunteer work to help are to be admired. They not only have the baggage of poverty, gay, trans, "not white" and lack of education, but the baggage of hatred thrown at them. If MAGA people want someone to blame for their miserable and unhappy lives, all they have to do is look in the mirror. Mr. Fierstein is and was a joy to listen to. You two had good repartee with each other. Thanks again for an article that hits home for me.
Hi Peter, Ari’s commentary took me back to President Obama’s “Change You Can Believe In.” That change scares many. Always remember, it’s not about you, but them! I’ve not met you, but through your writings, I’ve depicted a very fun-loving, caring human being, who gives of himself. That’s what’s important! You simply step over them and keep moving forward, because that’s where the rest of us are headed. Even them! That’s why they’re kicking and screaming--we’re bumping their heads, as we drag them along.
I agree. I cannot say the few times someone called me a faggot that I did not do an internal shudder but as you wisely said you keep moving forward. I refuse to give them the satisfaction that I had to do an eternal regrouping. To be treated like everyone else is never too much to ask for.
"To be treated like everyone else is never too much to ask for." You are SO correct! The struggle, indeed, is real; but, we ain't never giving up on this simple demand - 'in spite of' our race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, etc. etc...
Hi Diva!!! What an inspirational comment.🙏 If only more people would able to give of themselves to help people and make them feel like they have a purpose, what a wonderful world this would be. Yes you are right, we only know each other through our comments, but I know that everyone here has a good heart.💗 Have a good weekend!!!😊
Hi Peter, we love the arts too. That is one thing we have missed the most these past 2 years. You are so right about the MAGA crowd They are just spiteful hateful people.
Your words touched my heart.💗 God bless you!!! Have a good weekend!!!🙏😊
Hi Peter! Do you read the NYTimes Opinion writer, Jennifer Finney Boylan? She is a trans woman, strong LGBTQ activist with a gift for writing and story telling. Here is her last opinion piece that touches on the points (hitting it home with it all being about LOVE) that Harvey and Ari talked about in that great interview. Here is the link, in case you haven't seen it.
Great Interview, we should all embrace our uniqness, each one of us is different then the other, we are each special in our own way, Harvey's was absolutely correct🙏
I LOVE Harvey. His voice, his mannerisms, him. He comes across as sweet, personable, warm and downright available to get to know you. I'll have to check out his mem and read through it. I can only imagine some of the stories he has to tell.
Ari, you made my day by saying you liked what I wrote. I sent you a long message but I think it got lost. If you got it, let me know and make my day again.
What a wonderful interview..I understand that gay people need to be themselves! There was a day when they hid behind families, got married, had children.. then boom!! The wife finds out the truth and she and the kids are devastated. All because they didn’t want their parents and immediate family to know!! Harvey is right.. there should be no closet.. be yourself without hurting anyone else😢
I watched the full interview after your show. I was lucky to have seen him in concert. I love his attitude of inclusion and acceptance. The White Christian Nationalist movement is afraid of “ differences” as they are afraid of BLM, Voting Rights, Justice System reforms and KBJ on the SCOTUS. So a rush to restrict hard won rights and freedoms and promote conspiracy theories, as well as accusations of pro pedophilia/grooming of children. Anyone who disagrees is also a Nazi. For all that Harvey lived through and saw progress, there’s a movement to go backwards.
I play a game with friends sometimes of choosing 5 people living or dead you’d want to have dinner with and why. Harvey is on my list!
I couldn’t agree more with your statement, “ The White Christian Nationalist movement is afraid of “ differences” as they are afraid of BLM, Voting Rights, Justice System reforms and KBJ on the SCOTUS. So a rush to restrict hard won rights and freedoms and promote conspiracy theories, as well as accusations of pro pedophilia/grooming of children. Anyone who disagrees is also a Nazi. For all that Harvey lived through and saw progress, there’s a movement to go backwards.” Well said😃👍🏽
What a wonderful and loving man Harvey is, we need more people like him in this world. Your interaction with him was so natural and funny. Especially your wink!!! His uniqueness is what makes him so special and so loved by his fans. From musical theatre to movies, Harvey's performances are always award worthy. Thanks Ari, always grateful for all you do for us. Have a great weekend!!!🙏🎹🎤🎼👍
I would add that Harvey is also brave. He’s willing to be authentic and unique. I agree with about the selling of our past the nostalgia of a better time. The truth is it was only better for some. I think democracies have to work for everyone not just a select few. I don’t have a problem when people don’t understand others who love differently. Binary metrics for humans fall short. I object to criminalizing how people love. I work with many who are transitioning and it is complicated and filled with peril and now practically illegal in some areas. These new laws are cruel and wholly inaccurate. It was a thoughtful interview and I appreciate his perspective.
When Harvey said "I love you for your uniqueness, please love me for my uniqueness" in your interview with him, I melted, because this is what life is. The s*** show in Florida and other states breaks my heart. I think about the little ones in school whose families may look very different. And if they are not allowed their uniqueness at such a young age, they are being crushed rather than nurtured in school.
Let's start our weekend with 🥰❤
The raw, atavistic hatefulness takes your breath away.
Harvey was right -- no one can actually go backward: these people want to push us into a newer, more insidious and permanent state that "protects" them from whatever might challenge their fundamental(ist) beliefs.
They have powerful political allies and a Supreme Court willing to create "rights" for religion that supersede the rest of us.
The country was founded by wealthy aristocrats for heterosexual white men with property.
That's the "original" that "originalists" want to re-create and preserve.
That's been whittled away somewhat over decades by struggle and sometimes bloodshed.
The right wants to enact new ways to censor, persecute heretics, "witches" and "deviants." It's a potent way to get people to vote against their own interests.
We're going to have to do the sixties all over again, but 21st century style: the BLM marches were just a start. So was the recent Amazon union victory.
it's all part of the same effort to make humanity human.
I love your insights. Thank you! I see many more marches and rallies in my future : )
Thank you! Me too, and a lot of online activity, even as many online pubs close their comment sections.
Love it! 😁 Thanks for the cross-cultural promotions. ✨🏳️🌈✨ America is a wonderful and diverse nation, let's keep it that way. Acceptance of differences is what makes us free! ❤️
Uniqueness - Love it! Truly - Harvey is a "special human being"!
Ari, thank you for exposing me to things I never would have learned about, and for making me
more understanding of different kinds of people, and making me want to be a kinder person to everyone. Live and let live and LOVE and LET LOVE for ALL.
Splendid, and profound as well as inspirational and entertaining.
Excellent and important. I love this so much!!
Harvey Fierstein is a treasure. Thanks for calling on him for the Don’t Say Gay issue.
Hi Ari and Happy Fri-YAY😃 This week is ending on a good and historic note: we have our first African American woman who is one of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court-Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson (I love the sound of that😃👏🏽) after 232 years history of the Supreme Court.
I listened to the full interview with Harvey Fierstein. Harvey is truly inspiring…what a lovely person he is😃 Everything he stated in the interview was so beautiful. It is hard to believe that he is 70 years old.
I don’t know what to think about GOP anymore - this “Party of Lincoln” is so desperate to return all of us to the Jim Crow era through their ridiculous laws.
Despite our gender and sexuality, we have one thing in common: we are all human that deserve embrace (embrace our differences), love and respect.
Perfection is boring and if we are all the same, life will be boring.
“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” - Stephen Covey
Ari, have a nice and relaxing weekend…thanks for your excellent newsletters. I enjoy reading them😃
Cheers🍾🥂
Hi Sandra!!! What a week!!! April 7, 2022. A historical day filled with so much emotional joy, tears, and pride. So proud of our Senators that made this day possible.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😊
Hard work, with that bunch.
Yes indeed😃👍🏽
“Perfection is boring…” Now, you tell me😊. HAPPY FRIDAY to you, Sandra, and a great historical weekend.
Thanks you too🙏🏽
Great and positive article to read on a stressful workday. Mr. Fierstein is a treasure. As a lover of the arts- ballet, Broadway, etc and being gay, I have always looked up to him as a positive role model. I follow his life guidelines- to remain positive. That irritates the hateful people and makes one's own life better. I am so grateful my immigrant parents taught me how to deal with the negative people. These MAGA people are scared and actually jealous of anyone not white and straight. The many people I help via volunteer work to help are to be admired. They not only have the baggage of poverty, gay, trans, "not white" and lack of education, but the baggage of hatred thrown at them. If MAGA people want someone to blame for their miserable and unhappy lives, all they have to do is look in the mirror. Mr. Fierstein is and was a joy to listen to. You two had good repartee with each other. Thanks again for an article that hits home for me.
Hi Peter, Ari’s commentary took me back to President Obama’s “Change You Can Believe In.” That change scares many. Always remember, it’s not about you, but them! I’ve not met you, but through your writings, I’ve depicted a very fun-loving, caring human being, who gives of himself. That’s what’s important! You simply step over them and keep moving forward, because that’s where the rest of us are headed. Even them! That’s why they’re kicking and screaming--we’re bumping their heads, as we drag them along.
I agree. I cannot say the few times someone called me a faggot that I did not do an internal shudder but as you wisely said you keep moving forward. I refuse to give them the satisfaction that I had to do an eternal regrouping. To be treated like everyone else is never too much to ask for.
Hello Peter,
"To be treated like everyone else is never too much to ask for." You are SO correct! The struggle, indeed, is real; but, we ain't never giving up on this simple demand - 'in spite of' our race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, etc. etc...
EXACTLY! Respectful treatment is a must. One doesn’t ever have to accept me, with this charming personality 😂, but you WILL respect me! We all matter!
Amen- my feelings exactly.
Peter, so sorry that happened to you 😢
It did not happen often and we should all be grateful we are not like them.
Hi Diva!!! What an inspirational comment.🙏 If only more people would able to give of themselves to help people and make them feel like they have a purpose, what a wonderful world this would be. Yes you are right, we only know each other through our comments, but I know that everyone here has a good heart.💗 Have a good weekend!!!😊
Yes, all appear likable. Of course, Ari shows and articles require a certain following: Folks with sense. A great weekend to you, too, V.
Hi Peter, we love the arts too. That is one thing we have missed the most these past 2 years. You are so right about the MAGA crowd They are just spiteful hateful people.
Your words touched my heart.💗 God bless you!!! Have a good weekend!!!🙏😊
Hi Peter! Do you read the NYTimes Opinion writer, Jennifer Finney Boylan? She is a trans woman, strong LGBTQ activist with a gift for writing and story telling. Here is her last opinion piece that touches on the points (hitting it home with it all being about LOVE) that Harvey and Ari talked about in that great interview. Here is the link, in case you haven't seen it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/09/opinion/trans-queer-rights.html?smid=url-share
Great Interview, we should all embrace our uniqness, each one of us is different then the other, we are each special in our own way, Harvey's was absolutely correct🙏
I LOVE Harvey. His voice, his mannerisms, him. He comes across as sweet, personable, warm and downright available to get to know you. I'll have to check out his mem and read through it. I can only imagine some of the stories he has to tell.
Ari, you made my day by saying you liked what I wrote. I sent you a long message but I think it got lost. If you got it, let me know and make my day again.
What a wonderful interview..I understand that gay people need to be themselves! There was a day when they hid behind families, got married, had children.. then boom!! The wife finds out the truth and she and the kids are devastated. All because they didn’t want their parents and immediate family to know!! Harvey is right.. there should be no closet.. be yourself without hurting anyone else😢
I watched the full interview after your show. I was lucky to have seen him in concert. I love his attitude of inclusion and acceptance. The White Christian Nationalist movement is afraid of “ differences” as they are afraid of BLM, Voting Rights, Justice System reforms and KBJ on the SCOTUS. So a rush to restrict hard won rights and freedoms and promote conspiracy theories, as well as accusations of pro pedophilia/grooming of children. Anyone who disagrees is also a Nazi. For all that Harvey lived through and saw progress, there’s a movement to go backwards.
I play a game with friends sometimes of choosing 5 people living or dead you’d want to have dinner with and why. Harvey is on my list!
I couldn’t agree more with your statement, “ The White Christian Nationalist movement is afraid of “ differences” as they are afraid of BLM, Voting Rights, Justice System reforms and KBJ on the SCOTUS. So a rush to restrict hard won rights and freedoms and promote conspiracy theories, as well as accusations of pro pedophilia/grooming of children. Anyone who disagrees is also a Nazi. For all that Harvey lived through and saw progress, there’s a movement to go backwards.” Well said😃👍🏽