Harvey Milk is most well known for being the first openly gay politician elected into office. His legacy spans farther than he could’ve ever imagined. Harvey was born in Woodmere, New York but moved to San Francisco in 1972. He owned a camera store on Castro Street, the home of queer culture in the United States. Later in Harvey´s life, he started his political career. He had been elected on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 after running three times prior. While in office, Harvey had gained some enemies and was assassinated by Dan White after only 11 months in office. Harvey Milk was forty- eight when he was killed yet, his legacy still lives on.
Popular singer, Anita Bryant fought against an anti- discrimination law conserving the safety of members of the LGBTQ+ community. This made open queer people very uncomfortable and unsafe in the public. Anita later formed an Anti- Gay group named Save Our Children this widespread hate unleashed a wave of uncontrollable violence toward members of the LGBTQ+ community. Homophobic psychologists even began publishing pamphlets claiming that gay men molest more children, commit more murders, and spread more diseases. However, their hate had inspired allies and queer people to unite and create pro- gay groups to counteract her actions.
To honor California Gay Freedom Day on June 25, 1978, Harvey delivered his famous “Hope Speech” at the San Diego California Democratic Council dinner of the gay cancus. Even now, closeted gays everywhere read Harvey’s speech in admiration. One famous line from his speech reads, “I hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at none are too great. Hope that all will be alright. Without hope, not only the gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us’es will give up”. Not only did Milk give strength to the queer but also to the minorities of our nation. He exaggerated why having minority leaders in office is important because representation is important.
Ten days after Harvey’s Hope speech, the San Francisco Board Of Supervisors passed the strongest pro-gay legislation in the nation, at the time. The legislation banned the discrimination of queer people in public accomedation, employment, and housing.
Harvey Milk’s first bill, a gay rights bill, if passed by the Board of Supervisors would make discrimination in employment, housing, and public accomedation illegal. When it was passed, it inspired many more gay rights bills from other states. Everyone on the board had voted yes, except for Dan White, his future assassin.
On November 27, 1978 Harvey Milk was assassinated by Dan White in the San Francisco City Hall along with the mayor at the time, Mayor George Moscone. Dan White felt as if he had been betrayed by Harvey Milk after Harvey refused to vote against a bill promoting the building of psychiatric centers. Riots broke out in city hall immediately following his death. On November 27th the streets were bombarded with candlelight. Spectators even say that there were more people gathered in San Francisco’s city hall than at the stonewall riots, because there were thousands gathered at candlelight. Dan White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and had never been enrolled in a mental facility. Dan was only sentenced to seven years in jail. The minorities of San Francisco fled the streets in revolt to his minor sentence. The protests then escalated into riots that would later be named the White Night Riots. Minorities everywhere had been moved by Harvey’s work and risked their lives for justice. After Dan White was released from prison, he commited suicide the following year.
Harvey Milk’s public presence had impacted the youth, the elderly, and the way we persieve the gay rights movement today. He campaigned very hard for the rights of the elderly and informed the youth of the importance of being involved in local politics. He helped many young and old LGBTQ+ individuals come out and embrace their sexuality as well. If it weren’t for his presence, the gay rights movement would have progressed much slower. He paved way for other openly queer people in government like, Manuel Canelas, Pete Buttigeig, and Kate Brown. The Harvey Milk Foundation founded by Stuart Milk and Anne Kronenberg spreads awareness for gender and sexuality struggles. The foundation also informs the youth about LGBTQ+ history, which is very much forgotten in modern classrooms. Through this foundation, they tell Harvey´s story as well. On June 26, 2015 the Supreme Court required all states to accept same-sex marriage which was a dream for Harvey and Gays nationwide.His legacy continues through the Harvey Milk Foundation, his relatives, and the lively gay rights movement. By virtue of Milk´s work and many others, new generations to come will be able to express their sexuality freely with limited risk, and have the ability to marry.
By: Julia Han
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