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I got this through an e-mail from one of my friends last night. Too often, some people assume that non-heterosexuals are antithetical to American culture, or that they cannot contribute to American culture.
You Better Watch Out
November 26, 2003
By HARVEY FIERSTEIN
According to legend, New York lore and two major Hollywood
flicks, Macy's Santa is the real deal. And tomorrow, to the
delight of millions of little children (not to mention the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court), the Santa in New
York's great parade will be half of a same-sex couple.
And guess who the other half will be? Me! Harvey Fierstein,
nice Jewish boy from Bensonhurst, dressed in holiday finery
portraying the one and only Mrs. Claus.
Won't America get a kick out of that? But what if Santa
really was gay? Could there be a another Mr. Claus? Would
those grinches who, as we speak, are fashioning legislation
to deny marriage to gay and lesbian Americans make an
exception for the jolly old soul? What has Santa ever done
except bring joy and gifts to all? Just the sight of his
face is enough to bring a smile to the Scroogiest of
politicians. Would his gifts of love and goodwill be
answered with exclusion and derision?
The answer, history tells us, is "of course." Consider the
Americans who have rained nothing but glory on our nation.
Think about the magnificent works of Walt Whitman, James
Baldwin and Hart Crane. They're just a handful of writers
who shaped the American vision and yet could not achieve
full citizenship because they were homosexual. How many
wedding parties have walked down the aisle to the music of
Virgil Thompson, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman or Aaron
Copland? Yes, we get to provide the music, but we are not
allowed to get married ourselves. The next time you stand,
hand on your heart, and sing "America the Beautiful,"
remind yourself that we owe those towering words to
Katharine Lee Bates, a lesbian.
Remind yourself, too, of the Rev. Mychal F. Judge, the fire
department chaplain who was killed on September 11. There
was hardly a religious leader in our city who did not
glorify his name and hold him up as someone to emulate. But
remind them that he was a proud and openly gay man and
those same moralists will turn their backs in denial.
The unhappy tradition continues today. The Bush
administration spends billions spreading freedom abroad
while at home it devises legislation to deny equal rights
to gays and lesbians. What is it with you people, anyway?
Are you so insecure about the way you handle marriage that
you're scared gay folk will show you up? Trust me, we will
make as much of a mess out of matrimony as you do. Just
give us a chance.
In the end all I can say is this: If I really was Santa's
life partner, you can believe that he would ask and I would
tell about who has been naughty or nice on this issue.
Still, as we approach the holiday season I'd like to
imagine that fear and bigotry will not prevail in this
land. Maybe this holiday season we can toss out some of the
intolerance that nests in our hearts and make room for more
love and acceptance.
Of course, there will be those who say, Santa Claus lives
near Canada and isn't even an American. To them I reply,
neither is anyone who would deny a person full citizenship
because of whom he or she loves. Besides, we've been
looking at a time share on the Cape. Happy holiday and
remember to wave to me on my float. I'll be the man in the
big red dress.
Harvey Fierstein won the 2003 Tony Award for his
performance in "Hairspray."
You Better Watch Out
November 26, 2003
By HARVEY FIERSTEIN
According to legend, New York lore and two major Hollywood
flicks, Macy's Santa is the real deal. And tomorrow, to the
delight of millions of little children (not to mention the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court), the Santa in New
York's great parade will be half of a same-sex couple.
And guess who the other half will be? Me! Harvey Fierstein,
nice Jewish boy from Bensonhurst, dressed in holiday finery
portraying the one and only Mrs. Claus.
Won't America get a kick out of that? But what if Santa
really was gay? Could there be a another Mr. Claus? Would
those grinches who, as we speak, are fashioning legislation
to deny marriage to gay and lesbian Americans make an
exception for the jolly old soul? What has Santa ever done
except bring joy and gifts to all? Just the sight of his
face is enough to bring a smile to the Scroogiest of
politicians. Would his gifts of love and goodwill be
answered with exclusion and derision?
The answer, history tells us, is "of course." Consider the
Americans who have rained nothing but glory on our nation.
Think about the magnificent works of Walt Whitman, James
Baldwin and Hart Crane. They're just a handful of writers
who shaped the American vision and yet could not achieve
full citizenship because they were homosexual. How many
wedding parties have walked down the aisle to the music of
Virgil Thompson, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman or Aaron
Copland? Yes, we get to provide the music, but we are not
allowed to get married ourselves. The next time you stand,
hand on your heart, and sing "America the Beautiful,"
remind yourself that we owe those towering words to
Katharine Lee Bates, a lesbian.
Remind yourself, too, of the Rev. Mychal F. Judge, the fire
department chaplain who was killed on September 11. There
was hardly a religious leader in our city who did not
glorify his name and hold him up as someone to emulate. But
remind them that he was a proud and openly gay man and
those same moralists will turn their backs in denial.
The unhappy tradition continues today. The Bush
administration spends billions spreading freedom abroad
while at home it devises legislation to deny equal rights
to gays and lesbians. What is it with you people, anyway?
Are you so insecure about the way you handle marriage that
you're scared gay folk will show you up? Trust me, we will
make as much of a mess out of matrimony as you do. Just
give us a chance.
In the end all I can say is this: If I really was Santa's
life partner, you can believe that he would ask and I would
tell about who has been naughty or nice on this issue.
Still, as we approach the holiday season I'd like to
imagine that fear and bigotry will not prevail in this
land. Maybe this holiday season we can toss out some of the
intolerance that nests in our hearts and make room for more
love and acceptance.
Of course, there will be those who say, Santa Claus lives
near Canada and isn't even an American. To them I reply,
neither is anyone who would deny a person full citizenship
because of whom he or she loves. Besides, we've been
looking at a time share on the Cape. Happy holiday and
remember to wave to me on my float. I'll be the man in the
big red dress.
Harvey Fierstein won the 2003 Tony Award for his
performance in "Hairspray."
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