Today is the first third annual Harvey Milk Day--in California--which will occur every May 22nd, on Harvey's birthday, to honor the gay-rights activist who was assassinated in 1978.
Harvey Milk is only the second person in California state history, after conservationist John Muir, to gain such a designation, and is the only openly gay person in the country to be honored this way.
Harvey would be pleased, I'd like to think.
In 1977, Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. Both he and San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone were assassinated less than a year later. Despite his short political life, Milk has become an icon in San Francisco and the LGBT community. Proof that when we stand together, we can do anything.
Now, of course, there is no Harvey Milk Day in South Carolina, which is roughly ten to twenty years behind the times; and there is no Harvey Milk Day in most states, though some communities around the nation will be celebrating. But, maybe, just maybe, each of us, gay, and gay-friendly, can talk about Harvey today, and continue to spread in his word.
It may not be an official Harvey Milk Day, but it can be a day in which all the things he stood for, fought for, and died for, are remembered.
Happy birthday, Harvey.
I remember the day he was killed. I was 17, in denial, and I thought it would start an open warfare on people like me. Then I saw the aftermath and thought, no, it's going to be harder for people to fuck with us now. We're not going to let them get away with.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this reminder!
ReplyDeleteHappy Harvey Milk Day
ReplyDeleteAnd in his honor, instead of milk, Im going to have a Havey Wallbanger!!!!
ReplyDeleteHarvey had the best solution for defeating homophobia...everyone come out. EVERYONE. If everyone came out homophobia would disappear overnight. Unfortunately it is the self-hating gays and the cowards who, by hiding and being afraid of their own shadow, enable homophobia to flourish like a raging virus. Harvey knew the answer.
ReplyDelete