Harvey Milk Day is organized by the Harvey Milk Foundation and celebrated each year on May 22 in California in memory of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist who was assassinated in November 1978, along with the SF Mayor. Milk was the first openly gay person elected to California public office, where he served as a city supervisor. His assassination happened in the same month as the Jonestown Massacre, which played a part in his assassin’s anger.
Just to make this brief about him:
– Sponsored a civil rights bill that outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation
– Promoted larger and less expensive child care facilities, free public transportation, and the development of a board of civilians to oversee the police
– Made a law in SF that people had to clean up after their pets (this was a VERY big deal)
– Other causes: convert of military facilities to low-cost housing, reform of the tax code to attract industry to deserted warehouses and factories
– Worked tirelessly against Prop 6, a bill that would have required immediate firing of all gay teachers.
He left a recording to be played after his death in which he said, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country.”
The movie made about him, “Milk”, is coming to Prime in 10 days. There is also a movie about him available in the Criterion Collection, see source 5.
Had you ever heard of Harvey before?
