Harvey Fierstein Counsels Obama On Gay RIghts

In an open letter to President Obama, Harvey notes that Lincoln "matured" into his full support of equal rights for African Americans. Obama, writes Harvey, needs to do likewise when it comes to gay rights:

America needs to hear you say, "We will no longer tolerate the oppression of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles. They are our family. They are we and we are they." The nation needs to hear you say, "We must prove ourselves worthy of the title Americans; protectors of the weak, standard bearers of freedom, and guarantors of equal rights for all." Mr President, history will record the day you say, "From this day forward no amendment, statute or law that seeks to deny full rights of citizenship on the basis of sexual preference will be tolerated. Hatred and bigotry are here forth banished to the dark recesses of small minds. Let the Pledge of Allegiance light our way to tomorrow as "...one nation, indivisible, with freedom and justice for all.'" That, dear son of Lincoln, is the grand gesture we need from you. We need a hero, and you have been elected.