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Today is Harvey Milk Day — at least in California — a holiday that occurs every May 22nd, on Harvey's birthday, to honor the late, great gay-rights activist who was assassinated in 1978. Harvey Milk is only the second person in California state history, after conservationist John Muir, to be recognized with his own 'day,' 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, and less than a year later both he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated. Despite his short political life, Milk has become an icon in San Francisco, in California, around the world, and throughout LGBT community, proving that when we stand together, we can do anything.
Now, of course, there is no Harvey Milk Day here 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.
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Thursday, May 22, 2014
Happy Birthday Harvey!
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Harvey Milk, one of the bravest and wisest men ever to grace the social landscape of this country. He will go down in history as such. His admonition that every gay man and woman should come out and that would end homophobia forever, was and is exactly right. A true hero.
ReplyDeleteI was in San Francisco in the spring of 1978. What a wonderful man :-)
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