Da zarar na shiga Cotton Candy Fabrics, wani kantin kayan kwalliya a Connecticut, na ji muryar Harvey Fierstein mai kauri. Ganuwar tana cike da kyawawan yadudduka, kuma an rataye kayan kwalliya masu launuka daga rufi. A kowace rana, za ku iya samun wannan mutum mai shekaru 73, wanda ya lashe kyautar Tony sau biyar, a nan, kewaye da gungun mata masu sana'a da maza masu son yin magana.
Fierstein ya fara yin kwalliya a shekarar 2009. Ya ce wani bangare na wahayinsa ya fito ne daga son shirin talabijin na USB **Simply Quilts**, amma kuma daga Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. An shirya nuna shi a Washington, DC, kuma yana son yin bangarori ga abokansa biyu na kud da kud da suka mutu daga cutar. Tun daga wannan lokacin ya kasance mai yawan aiki. Ya nuna min hotunan abubuwan da ya kirkira a wayarsa: wani kwalliya na 'yancin LGBTQ+ mai dauke da triangles masu ruwan hoda, Taurarin Dauda masu rawaya (alamar Yahudawa), da kwarangwal da ke gaisuwa da salon Nazi; Fierstein tare da karnukansa biyu; wasu bishiyoyi masu ban sha'awa da ya yi mafarki; da kuma hoton wani matashi mai tsiraici (watau direban isar da kayayyaki na Amazon).
"Ina ba da su kyauta, amma ba na sayar da su," in ji shi. "A gaskiya, a safiyar yau na sami takarda daga wani daraktan wasan Broadway yana tambaya, 'Za ka iya ba da gudummawar kwalliya don sadaka ta a wannan shekara?' Na rubuta masa amsa, 'Za ka iya kira ni don aiki?'"
Mutane da yawa sun san Fierstein a matsayin gwarzon Broadway wanda ya yi fice da wasan kwaikwayonsa na tarihin rayuwa (da kuma fim daga baya) **Torch Song Trilogy**, ya yi tauraro a wasan kwaikwayo na **Hairspray**, kuma ya rubuta littafin wasannin gargajiya kamar **La Cage aux Folles** da **Kinky Boots**. Wasu sun fara jin muryarsa mai kauri ta hanyar ayyukan muryarsa na shekarun 90—a cikin **Mulan** da **The Simpsons**—ko kuma sun ji dadin rawar da ya taka a fina-finai kamar **Mrs. Doubtfire** da **Independence Day**. Kwanan nan, watakila kun ga Fierstein yana tsayawa kan hare-haren Trump kan 'yancin LGBTQ+ da 'yancin fasaha. Kamar yadda ya fada a Instagram a bara, "Na shafe fiye da shekaru 50 a gwagwarmayar 'yancinmu na jama'a kawai don ganin an kwace su daga wani mutum wanda a zahiri ba shi da damuwa."
Fierstein ba ya yin wasan kwaikwayo da yawa a kwanakin nan, "kawai saboda babu wani abu mai ban sha'awa da za a yi," in ji shi. "An ba ni wasu abubuwa—kuma duk abin da na karanta ya gundure ni." A maimakon haka, ya ci gaba da aiki na sa'o'i 10 a rana, ko dai yana rubutu ko yin kwalliya—ko kuma yana rubutu game da kwalliya don littafin da yake aiki akai. Akwai wani sabon shiri na off-Broadway na **La Cage aux Folles** mai zuwa a watan Yuni, wanda Billy Porter ya fito. Amma kafin haka, an fara sabunta **Kinky Boots** a London, wanda Johannes Radebe na **Strictly** ya fito.
An daidaita shi daga fim din Birtaniya na 2005 (tare da kiɗa daga Cyndi Lauper), labarin ya biyo bayan wani mutum daga Northampton wanda ya farfado da masana'antar takalmin mahaifinsa da ke fama da wahala ta hanyar hada kai da wata sarauniya don yin takalmi ga kasuwar sarauniya da ba a yi wa hidima ba. An fara shi a Chicago a watan Oktoba 2012 da yabo mai girma, ya lashe kyaututtuka shida na Tony, kuma ana yin shi a duk duniya tun daga lokacin. Me ya sa yake tunanin wasan yana da tasiri har yanzu?
"To, saboda yana da mutuntaka sosai," in ji Fierstein. "Abin da na fi so game da **Kinky Boots** shi ne cewa sau da yawa ana jan maza don ganin wasannin kida—maza masu son mata—kuma suna jurewa da jin dadi ko wani abu. Amma **Kinky Boots**, mata suna son shi, amma na maza ne." A karshe, ya ce, wasan ne game da uba da 'ya'ya maza da kalubalen daidaita tsammanin iyayenka game da rayuwarka da naka. "Mata sun fahimci hakan, amma maza ba sa magana game da wannan."
Fierstein ya girma a Brooklyn, New York, a gidan Yahudawa mai "iyali mai karfi"—shi, mahaifinsa (mai kera mayafi), mahaifiyarsa (daga baya ma'aikaciyar laburare a makaranta), da dan uwansa. Harvey Fierstein da babban dan uwansa Ron (wanda kuma ya kasance manajansa na dogon lokaci) sun girma a cikin iyali inda mahaifiyarsa ke son kai kowa zuwa wasannin Broadway. A dakinsa, Fierstein yakan rera wakokin wasan kwaikwayo, yana yin kamar manyan mata kamar Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, da Chita Rivera.
Ya fito wa iyayensa ba zato ba tsammani lokacin da suka sami hotunan tsiraici da ya dauka na abokansa biyu suna tsaye a kan gadon mahaifiyarsa. A yayin gardamar da ta biyo baya, mahaifiyarsa ta ce tana fushi cewa sun "yi rainon dan luwadi," cewa ba za ta iya amincewa da shi ba, kuma ya karya zuciyarta. Amma iyayensa ba su taba gaya masa ya daina zama dan luwadi ba. Da kyar aka yi tattaunawa, in ji shi—kawai wani irin yarda ba tare da magana ba.
A matsayinsa na yaro, Fierstein yana jin kunyar nauyinsa, musamman "nonon yaro," wanda yakan rufe da bandeji. Yaushe ya ji dadi a jikinsa? "Ba taba," in ji shi. "Ina tsammanin duk wanda ya yi wasan kwaikwayo shi ne mai canza launi wanda ba ya jin dadi da kansa... sun fi jin dadi a boye a cikin hali."
Babu wanda ya fi ka yanke maka hukunci kamar yadda kake yi wa kanka. Ba na tsammanin wannan abu ne na luwadi kawai. Yana bukatar aiki mai yawa don ka so kanka.
Fierstein ya tafi makarantar fasaha sannan zuwa shahararren Pratt Institute na Brooklyn, inda ya karanci tukwane. A matsayinsa na matashi, yakan yi hira a yankin West Village na New York na 'yan luwadi. Lokaci ne na tashin hankalin jama'a (Fierstein bai kasance a tarzomar Stonewall a 1969 ba, amma yana cikin taron washegari) da kuma lokacin jima'i na yau da kullum, ba tare da suna ba. Lokacin da na tambaye shi ko ya taba jin kunyar jima'i, ya amsa ba tare da bata lokaci ba: "Kana nufin rashin iya yin shi da kyau?" Ya yi murmushi, sannan ya girgiza kafadarsa cikin neman afuwa. "Ban san abin da hakan ke nufi ba."
Me ya sa yake tunanin ya iya guje wa kyamar kai da za ta iya shafar maza masu luwadi da yawa? "Amma masu son mata ma suna kyamar kansu," in ji shi. "Wani darasi ne da kake koya. Babu wanda ya fi ka yanke maka hukunci kamar yadda kake yi wa kanka. Ba na tsammanin wannan abu ne na luwadi kawai. Yana bukatar aiki mai yawa don ka so kanka." Ya yi tsammanin zai girma ya fuskanci abubuwan rayuwa iri daya da takwarorinsa masu son mata—dangantaka mai tsawo, iyali. "Sai da na fita cikin duniya mai girma na gano cewa mutane ba su yarda da hakan ba ko fahimta."
A lokacin da Fierstein ya kammala karatu a 1973, ya kasance mai zurfin shiga cikin wasan kwaikwayo na karkashin kasa, bayan ya fito a wasanni da yawa, ciki har da **Pork** na Andy Warhol. Muryar Fierstein mai kauri ta fito a farkon aikinsa—wani bangare daga ci gaban muryar karya, wani bangare daga lalacewar dindindin da ya haifar da kururuwa da yawa a kan mataki.
Babban nasararsa ta zo a 1982 tare da **Torch Song Trilogy**, jerin wasanni da ya ke rubutawa da kuma yin tauraro a ciki tun 1978, wanda daga karshe aka hade su zuwa wani almara na awa hudu game da wata sarauniya Bayahude da ke tafiyar da rayuwar luwadi da soyayya. Labarin ya fito daga rayuwarsa—halin sarauniyarsa, jima'i na yau da kullum, karayar soyayya, da dangantakarsa da mahaifiyarsa—kuma wasan ya zama alamar gwagwarmayar 'yancin luwadi a lokacin.
An tallata Fierstein a matsayin daya daga cikin marubuta "masu bayyana luwadi" na farko da suka samu nasarar kasuwanci da wasan "na luwadi". **Torch Song Trilogy** ya yi tsawon shekaru uku a Broadway kuma ya ba shi kyautar Tony don Mafi kyawun Wasan kwaikwayo da Mafi kyawun Jarumi a 1983. Tare da abin da ya biyo baya, wani wasan kida na wasan Faransa **La Cage aux Folles**, Fierstein ya zama sabon marubuci mai shahara a garin.
A wannan lokaci, wata 'yar jaridar talabijin Barbara Walters ta yi masa tambayoyi, wadda ta yi masa tambayoyi game da rayuwa a matsayin dan luwadi. Amsoshin Fierstein da aka yi da wayo—wanda aka gabatar da ladabi, fasaha, da fara'a—sun ba da hirar rayuwa mai tsawo a kafafen sada zumunta. Lokacin da Walters ta tambaye shi, "Yaya ake zama dan luwadi?" ya yi murmushi ya amsa, "Yaya ake zama mai son mata? Ban sani ba, ni mutum ne kawai." Daga baya, ya gaya mata, "Kashi goma na duniya 'yan luwadi ne, don haka dole ne ku daina da 'wannan cuta ce, wannan rashin al'ada ce'—wannan abu ne na al'ada da ya wanzu a cikin tarihin dan Adam."
"Na kasance kewaye da marasa lafiya, kuma 'yan siyasa suna kiranta cutar luwadi... suna magana game da saka mu a sansanonin."
A lokacin bazara na 1982, duk da haka, kamar yadda Fierstein ya fada, "AIDS ta buge mu kamar tsunami." Ya rasa abokai da yawa, tsoffin masoya, da masoyan maza a lokacin annobar. Ya ce ba shi da laifin tsira. "Ina da abokai da yawa da suka rayu tare da ni. Amma eh, yana da muni a kalla. Ina nufin, ka yi tunanin cin abinci da wani sannan ka gano cewa sun kashe kansu a wannan dare."
Lokaci ne mai muni a kowane bangare, in ji shi. "Na kasance kewaye da marasa lafiya, kuma 'yan siyasa suna kiranta cutar luwadi... suna magana game da saka mu a sansanonin, kamar yadda Trump ke yi yanzu [ga wadanda ake zargin ba 'yan Amurka ba]. Wannan 'yan luwadi ne. Wannan shine abin da suka fara tunani: a kulle kowa. Ba sa tunanin magance matsalar. 'Yan Adam sune matsalar."
Duba hoto a cikakken allo: Fierstein yana nuna hoto a New York a 1977. Hoton: John Kisch Archive/Getty Images
Shin yana tunani game da wannan lokacin rayuwarsa? "Ina ci gaba da rayuwata, amma kana tunani game da shi koyaushe," in ji shi. "Ina da tokar abokai da aka binne a bayan gidana, ka sani? Yana da wuya."
Yadda muka yi ... Harvey Fierstein da Antony Sher a kan Torch Song Trilogy
Kara karantawa
Ta hanyar karshen shekarun 80 da 90, Fierstein yana da nasarar aikin fim da talabijin, yana fitowa a cikin manyan fina-finai na Hollywood, sau da yawa a matsayin jarumai masu ban dariya (ciki har da **Independence Day** da **Mrs. Doubtfire**), ko kuma ba da muryarsa mai kauri ga halayen raye-raye (Yao mai zafi a **Mulan**, wani fitowar da ba a manta da shi a matsayin mataimakin Homer Karl a **The Simpsons**). Duk da nasarar farko da yunkurin kaddamar da shirin talabijin na Fierstein, aikinsa na allo bai tashi ba kamar yadda ya yi a Broadway. Wane daga cikin rawar fim din yake kallo da farin ciki? "Babu," ya yi rada, "Ban damu ba."
Ya yarda yana jin wani soyayya ga **Mrs. Doubtfire**, duk da haka, inda ya taka rawar dan uwan Robin Williams, mai yin kayan kwalliya. Williams ya nemi Fierstein ya yi shi bayan ya kalli yadda aka yi masa ihu a kan mataki a gidan wasan kwaikwayo na Castro na San Francisco saboda wani shiri na "wasan kayan kwalliya na 'yan madigo" da bai dace ba da ya shirya da sauri a wani taron da Lily Tomlin ta shirya (Fierstein ya zo yana tunanin yana yin gabatarwa kawai). Williams ya ga duk abin yana da ban dariya. "Na yi **Doubtfire** saboda Robin ya so in yi shi. Kuma na yi farin ciki da yin shi saboda ina son shi sosai."
Duba hoto a cikakken allo: Matt Cardle, Johannes Radebe, da Courtney Bowman a lokacin kiran labule don wasan gala na **Kinky Boots** a London Coliseum a watan Maris 2026. Hoton: Dave Benett/Grant Buchanan/Getty Images don **Kinky Boots the Musical**
Yayin da aikin Fierstein ya tashi, ya sami dangantaka mai matsala da barasa. Bai taba sha a wurin aiki ba, amma da zai dawo gida sai ya fara, sannan ya yi kiran waya masu lalata "sha da buga waya". Da karfe 4 na yamma zai bugu har ya suma. "[Na kasance] kawai na duba," in ji shi. "Kawai ba na nan." A mafi munin yanayinsa, a 1996, Fierstein ya yi yunkurin kashe kansa. Wannan shine farkawa da ya bukaci neman taimako, daga kwararru da abokai. "Na kasance mai hankali tsawon shekaru 29," in ji shi.
Akwai wani irin dawowa a 2002, lokacin da Fierstein ya dauki rawar mai wanki Edna Turnblad a cikin daidaitawar Broadway na **Hairspray**. Ya lashe wata kyautar Tony don Mafi kyawun Jarumi a Wasan Kida. Ya ce rawar ta kasance wani mataki na sirri: "Akwai wannan tatsuniya cewa idan ka samu hankali, yana daukar shekaru biyar don ka dawo da hankalinka."
Idan akwai wata rawar da Fierstein ya fi alfahari da ita, tabbas ita ce ta Tevye a cikin sabunta Broadway na **Fiddler on the Roof** a 2004, wanda ya shiga a 2005. "Amma hakan zai kasance gaskiya ga duk wanda ya yi **Fiddler on the Roof**," in ji shi. "Yana daya daga cikin wadannan rawar da kake alfahari da cewa ka samu damar yi."
[Hoto: Fierstein yana gabatar da kyautar Grammy a New York a 2003. Hoton: Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images]
A cikin shekaru goma da suka biyo baya, Fierstein ya yi aiki a kan daidaitawar Broadway da yawa masu nasara (**Newsies**, **Kinky Boots**), wasanni na asali (**Casa Valentina**, **Bella Bella**), da wasannin talabijin (**The Wiz Live!**, **Hairspray Live!**), duk yayin da yake yin wasan kwaikwayo. Shin yana yin drag da yawa har yanzu? "Ba komai." Shin ya rasa shi? "Ya Allah, za ka biya ni. Da yawa." Ya sake farfado da **Torch Song Trilogy** a 2018, duk da haka, wanda ya nuna yadda motsin daidaiton LGBTQ+ ya zo. "Lokacin da muka fara yi [a 1981], 'yan luwadi suna boye shigowa... suna jin kunya ko tsoro. Lokacin da suka yi sabuntawa, sun shigo kamar su ne suka mallaki wurin."
A 2025, Fierstein ya sami kyautar nasarar rayuwa a Tonys. "Yana da ban sha'awa sosai," in ji shi. "Kana komawa baya, musamman, dangantakarka da kyaututtukan Tony. A gefe guda, kuma ina fadin haka da soyayya, ba su watsa wani bangare na jawabina ba."
Me ya sa yake tunanin hakan ya faru?
"Ba aikina ba. Zan iya hasashe?" Ya tuna da cece-kuce game da jawabinsa na karbar kyauta a baya: lokacin da **Torch Song Trilogy** ta lashe Mafi kyawun Wasan kwaikwayo a 1983, marubuci kuma furodusa John Glines ya yi tarihi – kuma ya haifar da tashin hankali – ta hanyar gode wa "masoyinsa" kuma furodusa Lawrence Lane. Shekara ta gaba, lokacin da Fierstein ya lashe Mafi kyawun Littafin Wasan Kida don **La Cage aux Folles**, "Sun tsaya a kan mataki suka ce: 'Kada wanda ya maimaita kunyar bara.' Don haka na fita na gode wa masoyina."
Jawabinsa na karbar kyautar wannan shekara ya kasance mai ladabi da motsin rai. Yana tsammanin masu shirya sun damu game da abin da zai iya fada, "saboda Trump da yadda duniya ke ƙin shi. Wanda ba zan yi ba saboda girmama maraice. A raina, kawai zama dan luwadi a bayyane/sarauniya, samun irin wadannan kyaututtuka ya isa ya zama sanarwa."
"Trump yana kai hari ga 'yancin fadin albarkacin baki. Yana kai hari ga 'yancin jarida. Yana kai hari ga kawayen Amurka. Amincewarsa kawai ga kansa ne."
Ba wai ya ja baya ba game da yin magana game da rashin adalci, mafi kwanan nan game da jagorancin Trump, ciki har da haramcin da ya yi wa masu yin drag a Kennedy Center a Washington DC a watan Fabrairu 2025. A mayar da martani, Fierstein ya fada a Instagram: "Yana kai hari ga 'yancin fadin albarkacin baki. Yana kai hari ga 'yancin jarida. Yana kai hari ga kawayen Amurka. Amincewarsa kawai ga kansa ne – marakin zinariya. 'Yan uwana Amurkawa, ina gargadinku – WANNAN BA YADDA YAKE FARTAWA BA. Wannan shine yadda 'YANCI YAKE KARE!" Lokacin da shugaban riko na cibiyar da Trump ya nada Ric Grenell (wanda dan luwadi ne) ya sauka a watan Maris, Fierstein ya saka a Instagram cewa yana "ci gaba da lalata wani sabon abu" a karkashin "ikon... shugaban Maga wawa."
[Hoto: Fierstein tare da karnukansa BoBo da Charlie, da daya daga cikin kayan kwalliyarsa, a Cotton Candy Fabrics. Hoton: Bryan Derballa/The Guardian]
A karshen hirar, an nuna min shagon kadan. Fierstein da kungiyar sun gaya min cewa yin kwalliya wani nau'i ne na fasaha inda kusan koyaushe kake yin wani abu mai ma'ana ga wani. Yana fatan littafinsa (mai yiwuwa) kan kwalliya zai taimaka wajen zaburar da mutane.
Yadda muka yi ... Harvey Fierstein da Antony Sher a kan **Torch Song Trilogy**
Kara karantawa
"Manufar ita ce in gwada wani abu..."Kowace rana dama ce don koyon sabon abu da gwada wani abu daban," in ji shi. "Wasu za su yi kyau, wasu kuma za su yi muni. Amma ka fita ka yi nishadi. Babu wanda ya hana ka. Yi wani abu da kanka, ko menene."
Kinky Boots yana a London Coliseum har zuwa 11 ga Yuli.
A Burtaniya da Ireland, za ku iya tuntuɓar Samaritans kyauta a 116 123, ko aika imel zuwa jo@samaritans.org ko jo@samaritans.ie. A Amurka, kira ko rubuta National Suicide Prevention Lifeline a 988, yi hira a kan layi a 988lifeline.org, ko rubuta HOME zuwa 741741 don yin magana da mai ba da shawara kan rikici. A Ostiraliya, sabis na tallafi na rikici Lifeline yana samuwa a 13 11 14. Don sauran layukan taimako na duniya, ziyarci befrienders.org.
A Burtaniya, Taking Action on Addiction yana ba da hanyoyin haɗi zuwa ayyukan tallafi daban-daban. A Amurka, kira ko rubuta SAMHSA's National Helpline a 988. A Ostiraliya, National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline yana a 1800 250 015; iyalai da abokai za su iya samun taimako daga Family Drug Support Australia a 1300 368 186.
**Tambayoyi da Aka Yi Yawa**
Anan akwai jerin tambayoyin da aka yi yawa bisa maganar Harvey Fierstein game da jarabar Kinky Boots da tsira
**Tambayoyi na Matakin Farko**
**Tambaya:** Menene Harvey Fierstein ya ce game da samun hankali?
**Amsa:** Ya ce "Lokacin da ka samu hankali, yana daukar shekaru biyar don ka dawo da hankalinka." Yana magana ne game da dogon tsari na jinkirin warkar da kwakwalwa bayan jaraba.
**Tambaya:** Shin da gaske yana daukar shekaru biyar don jin al'ada bayan samun hankali?
**Amsa:** Ba doka ce mai wuya ga kowa ba, amma kwarewa ce ta gama gari. Masana da yawa sun yarda cewa yana iya daukar shekaru da yawa don sinadarin kwakwalwa da tsarin tunani su warke gaba daya.
**Tambaya:** Me ya sa yake daukar lokaci mai tsawo don hankali ya dawo?
**Amsa:** Jaraba tana canza yadda kwakwalwarka ke aiki. Yana daukar lokaci don kwakwalwa ta warke daga lalacewa, ta sake gina daidaiton sinadarinta na halitta, kuma ta koyi yin tunani a sarari ba tare da abun ba.
**Tambaya:** Menene "dawo da hankalinka" yake nufi a zahiri?
**Amsa:** Yana nufin ƙwaƙwalwarka, mai da hankali, sarrafa motsin rai, da ikon magance matsaloli sun koma yanayi mafi koshin lafiya da kwanciyar hankali. Ka daina jin dimuwa, damuwa, ko gaggawa koyaushe.
**Tambaya:** Shin Harvey Fierstein ya fadi hakan dangane da Kinky Boots?
**Amsa:** E. Yana tattauna jigogin wasan kida, wanda ke game da karbuwa da juriya. Ya danganta labarin tsirarsa da sakon wasan na shawo kan wahala.
**Tambayoyi Masu Zurfi**
**Tambaya:** Shin shekaru biyar da Harvey Fierstein ya ambata gaskiya ce ta likitanci ko kuma kwarewarsa kawai?
**Amsa:** Cakuduwa ce ta duka biyun. Bincike ya nuna cewa warkar da kwakwalwa mai muhimmanci yana faruwa a matakai, sau da yawa yana daukar shekaru 2-5 don cikakkiyar farfadowar fahimta. Fierstein ya yi amfani da tafiyarsa don kwatanta wannan lokaci.
**Tambaya:** Menene matakan farfadowar tunani bayan jaraba?
**Amsa:** Gaba daya: Shekara ta farko tana game da kawar da sinadari da janyewar jiki mai tsanani. Shekaru 2-3 suna mai da hankali kan daidaita motsin rai da gyara dangantaka. Shekaru 4-5 sun hada da gyaran fahimta mai zurfi—kamar ƙwaƙwalwa, tsarawa, da sarrafa sha'awa—suna komawa ga matakin asali.
**Tambaya:** Yaya Kinky Boots yake da alaka da ra'ayin tsira da farfadowa daga jaraba?
**Amsa:** Wasan kida yana magana game da karbuwa, juriya, da shawo kan wahala, wanda yake daidai da tafiyar farfadowa daga jaraba. Fierstein ya yi amfani da labarinsa na tsira don nuna yadda mutum zai iya sake gina rayuwarsa, kamar yadda jaruman wasan suka yi.
