With a storied stage and screen career behind him, Harvey Fierstein is denouncing Donald Trump‘s takeover of the Kennedy Center.
The 4x Tony winner, who has starred in several Kennedy Center productions over the years, called out the Trump administration with an impassioned statement on Instagram after more than 20 shows were canceled or postponed.
“A few folks have written to ask how I feel about Trump’s takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel?” wrote Fierstein in the post. “The shows I’ve written are now banned from being performed in our premiere American theater. Those shows, most of which have been performed there in the past, include, KINKY BOOTS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, TORCH SONG TRILOGY, HAIRSPRAY, SAFE SEX, CASA VALENTINA, SPOOKHOUSE, A CATERED AFFAIR, THE SISSY DUCKLING, BELLA BELLA and more.
“I have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn’t care less. He does this stuff only to placate the religious right so they’ll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification,” he continued.
Fierstein said of Trump, “He attacks free speech. He attacks the free press. He attacks America’s allies. His only allegiance is to himself – the golden calf. My fellow Americans I warn you – this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS! Trump may have declared ‘woke’ as dead in America. We must prove him wrong. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!”
Fierstein’s statement comes as Trump visited the Kennedy Center this week, following his appointment as the Center’s new chairman after he ousted half the organization’s board members, who were nominated by Joe Biden.
Since Trump took over, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center, and Issa Rae has canceled a show scheduled for the venue. Meanwhile, Trump has faced backlash from supporters of the Kennedy Center’s canceled touring children’s musical Finn.
Trump previously threatened to make the Kennedy Center “GREAT AGAIN,” announcing his plan last month to remove those “who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” he added. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
