Harvey Fierstein | Interview outtakes

Harvey Fierstein

Photo: Carol Rosegg; Photo illustration: Jamie DiVecchio Ramsay

During my recent interview with Harvey Fierstein, the Kinky Boots creator entreated me to try cross-dressing—if not by wearing a dress, then at least by slipping on panty hose. The published Q&A ends there, but our conversation went on a bit more. When I mentioned to Fierstein that I’d see how my partner feels about it, Fierstein said—or, I should say, retorted—“Well, I don’t think you limit yourself by what your partner wants, do you?” “No,” I responded, “good point.” And so we continued:

Speaking of, do you have a partner yourself?

Nooo, no, no, I’m all done with that.

Why?

I have the world’s worst taste in men, so now I simply have wonderful relationships of the friend kind, but trying to settle down with somebody? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I’m beyond that. Well, actually, I’m seeing somebody now who’s very, very sweet and just really a wonderful guy, but if you look at most of my past boyfriends, I have the world’s worst taste in men.

But you are seeing someone now.

But in that casual way. I’m done with the other way. Some people are good at it and it’s wonderful, and I have lots of friends who are married and that’s wonderful, and I have lots of friends in long-term relationships with all kinds of negotiated relationships. I’ve been dating since I was 15 years old, and I just don’t seem to do it well.

Why don’t you do it well? What’s wrong with your approach?

I don’t know. I just don’t know. Maybe I do have the world’s worst taste in men. That’s what I’ve been told. That’s what my friends tell me. I loved every one of them, you know. I loved every one of my lovers. I had incredible relationships. But that’s what people have told me, so I have to allow that’s one of my great and lovable faults. [Laughs]

Kinky Boots opens tonight at the Bank of America Theatre and runs through November 4.