Harvey Milk

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Born May 22, 1930, in New York, Harvey Milk was an American politician & gay rights activist. After graduating college, he enlisted into the US Navy during the Korean War & served aboard the submarine rescue ship USS Kittiwake. He resigned in 1955, forced to accept an "other than honorable" discharge rather than be court-martialed for being gay.

After drifting from job to job, Milk moved to San Francisco in 1972 & opened a camera store. Frustrated with government leadership & bureaucracy, he ran for a position on the city’s Board of Supervisors in 1973. He was later quoted as saying, "I finally reached the point where I knew I had to become involved or shut up". After a series of losses, but gaining support & making friends, he won the vote in 1977, becoming the first openly gay elected official in America.

Shortly after his election, Milk sponsored a civil rights bill that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. The New York Times said it was one of the "most stringent and encompassing in the nation". Only Supervisor Dan White voted against it & the Mayor signed it into law using a light blue pen given to him by Milk for the occasion.

Milk also campaigned against Proposition 6, known as the Briggs Initiative. This proposed law would have made it mandatory to fire any gay teachers & public school employees who supported gay rights. The proposition lost by more than a million votes & in San Francisco, 75% voted against it.

Tragically, Harvey Milk & Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by former Supervisor White in 1978.  White was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter & was sentenced to serve 7 years. However, his sentence was reduced to 5 for time served & good behavior.

Although Harvey Milk’s life was cut short, he is remembered for striving to make the government more responsive to individuals, for being outspoken about gay rights, & for his belief that neighborhoods are vital in shaping the fabric of the city.