I'm Jonathan K. Parton, welcome to K-Part.

I was better last night, is the instantly engaging memoir from a writer, creator, producer

and actor who is won four 20 awards, three Dramadesca Awards, and numerous other awards

for Tort Song Trilogy, Lucajo Faux, and Hairspray.

That person is Harvey Firestein.

We talk about his landmark show Tort Song Trilogy, why he believes he survived the AIDS

epidemic, and his advice to young LGBTQ kids growing up in America today.

Young people must declare the world they want.

The world does belong to young people.

We need to be open to change, we need to be open to questions.

I fought for the use of the words gay and lesbian.

You don't think it's strange for me to now have to adjust to day in them, but it's exciting.

It's something I don't totally understand, it's exciting, it's opening a new world.

In this conversation, first recorded on April 6th for Washington Post Live, Firestein and

I barely scratched the surface of all that's in his memoir, but we had a good time trying.

Harvey, Firestein, welcome to K-Part of Washington Post Live.

I recognize you immediately Jonathan, immediately.

I need Richie Jackson to tell me I was talking to you.

Richie, this is one of the great things is that it's always wonderful when you share a truly

close friend with someone else and Richie Jackson is definitely that person for me.

Yes, well, you know I've known him since he's 17, I think.

Yes, no, yes, I do.

...