Harvey milk biography movie about henry

American gay rights activist (–)

For other uses, see Harvey Take advantage of (disambiguation).

Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, – November 27, ) was an American politician ahead the first openly gay squire to be elected to begin office in California, as calligraphic member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Milk was born and raised in Additional York. He acknowledged his gayness in adolescence but secretly chased sexual relationships well into maturity. The counterculture of the severe caused him to shed visit of his conservative views not quite individual freedom and sexual airing. Milk moved to San Francisco in and opened a camera store. Although he held prominence assortment of jobs and repeatedly changed addresses, he settled grind the Castro, a neighborhood defer was experiencing a mass migration of gay men and lesbians. He ran for city manager in but the existing brilliant political establishment resisted him. Milk's campaign was compared to ephemeral due to his personality, inheritance media attention and votes, conj albeit not enough to be designate. He campaigned again in high-mindedness next two supervisor elections, dubbing himself the "Mayor of Socialist Street". The voter response caused him to also run assimilate the California State Assembly. Exam to his growing popularity, sand led the gay rights migration in battles against anti-gay initiatives. Milk was elected city superior in after San Francisco began to choose neighborhood representatives somewhat than city-wide ones. During Milk's almost eleven months in disclose, he sponsored a bill bar discrimination based on sexual coordination in public accommodations, housing, current employment. The Supervisors passed dignity bill by a vote characteristic 11–1, and Mayor George Moscone signed it into law. Thing November 27, , Milk lecturer Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, a disgruntled former throw away supervisor who cast the lone vote against Milk's bill.

Despite his short political career, Drain became an icon in San Francisco and a martyr stop off the LGBTQ community.^{[note 1]} Focal point , Milk was called "the most famous and most superior openly LGBTQ official ever pick in the United States".^[2]Anne Kronenberg, his final campaign manager, wrote of him: "What set Medico apart from you or trade was that he was unembellished visionary. He imagined a honest world inside his head take then he set about all round create it for real, tend all of us."^[3] Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Palm of Freedom in

Early life

Harvey Bernard Milk was born fulfil the New York City town of Woodmere, to William Tap and Minerva Karns. He was the younger son of Litvak parents and the grandson recompense Morris Milk, a department cargo space owner^[4][5] who helped to throw the first synagogue in rectitude area.^[6] As a child, Impose on was teased for his prominent ears, big nose, and elephantine feet, and tended to grasp attention as a class comic. While he was in institute, he played football and dash a passion for opera. Misstep his name in the lofty school yearbook, it read, "Glimpy Milk—and they say WOMEN burst in on never at a loss make public words".^[7]

Milk graduated from Bay Come High School in Bay Sands, New York, in and double-dealing New York State College be thankful for Teachers in Albany (now goodness State University of New Dynasty at Albany) from to , majoring in mathematics.^[8] He as well wrote for the college making. One classmate remembered, "He was never thought of as put in order possible queer—that's what you baptized them then—he was a man's man".^[9]

Early career

After graduation, Milk united the United States Navy by the Korean War. He served aboard the submarine rescue shipUSS&#;Kittiwake&#;(ASR) as a diving officer. Tap later transferred to Naval Abode, San Diego to serve chimp a diving instructor.^[5] In , he resigned from the Flotilla at the rank of agent, junior grade, forced to forbear an "other than honorable" tip and leave the service to some extent than be court-martialed because spick and span his homosexuality.^{[10][11][note 2]}

Milk's early life's work was marked by frequent changes; in later years he would take delight in talking look on his metamorphosis from a traditional Jewish boy. He began tutoring at George W. Hewlett Lanky School on Long Island.^[12] Double up , he met Joe Mythologist at the Jacob Riis Glimmering beach, a popular location cherish gay men in Queens. Play on or upon pursued Campbell passionately. Milk spread to write Campbell romantic sum up and poems after they simulated in together.^[13] Seeking a device climate with milder winters, Capitalize on and Campbell left New Royalty in and moved to City, Texas; after they struggled unearthing find employment and were downhearted with the city's social view compared to New York, they moved back to the latter.^[14] In New York, Milk stilted as a public school schoolteacher in Long Island and fuel a stock analyst in Manhattan.^[15] In , Campbell and Profit by separated after almost six years.^[16]

Milk tried to keep his originally romantic life separate from climax family and work. Once reevaluate bored and single in Modern York, he thought of touching to Miami to marry unembellished lesbian friend to "have uncluttered front and each would war cry be in the way method the other".^[16] However, he persuaded to remain in New Royalty, where he secretly pursued epigrammatic relationships. In , Milk became involved with Craig Rodwell, who was 10 years younger. Shuffle through Milk courted Rodwell ardently, awaken him every morning with orderly call and sending him record, Milk was uncomfortable with Rodwell's involvement with the New Dynasty Mattachine Society, a gay-rights procedure. When Rodwell was arrested stake out walking in Riis Park, direct charged with inciting a anarchy and with indecent exposure (the law required men's swimsuits squalid extend from above the bellybutton to below the thigh), good taste spent three days in secure unit. The relationship soon ended hoot Milk became alarmed at Rodwell's tendency to agitate the police.^{[17][note 3]}

Milk abruptly stopped working rightfully an insurance actuary and became a researcher at the Uncharacteristic Street firm Bache & Spectator. He was frequently promoted teeth of his tendency to offend rank older members of the defined by ignoring their advice abide flaunting his success. Although proceed was skilled at his work, co-workers sensed that Milk's affections was not in his work.^[4] Before Milk's thirty-fourth birthday,^[18] bankruptcy started a romantic relationship buffed a year-old boy (b. Oct 18, )^[19] named Jack Anatomist McKinley after he left empress hometown on October 22, ^[20][21] Milk had recruited McKinley delay work on conservative RepublicanBarry Goldwater's presidential campaign.^[22] McKinley was given to depression and sometimes imperilled to commit suicide if Capitalize on did not show him adequate attention.^[23] To make a make conform to McKinley, Milk took him to the hospital where Milk's ex-lover, Joe Campbell, was in the flesh recuperating from a suicide be similar to after his lover Billy Sipple left him. Milk had remained friendly with Campbell, who difficult to understand entered the avant-garde art panorama in Greenwich Village, but Turn to account did not understand why Campbell's despondency caused to him care committing suicide.^[24]

Castro Street

Since the donation of World War II, prestige major port city of San Francisco had been home recognize a sizable number of clever men who had been expelled from the military and certain to stay rather than come back to their hometowns and minor ostracism.^[25] By the Kinsey Association believed San Francisco had optional extra gay people per capita fondle any other American city; in the way that the National Institute of Farreaching Health asked the institute prevalent survey homosexuals, the Institute chose San Francisco as its focus.^[26] Milk and McKinley were amidst the thousands of gay joe six-pack attracted to San Francisco. Denali was a stage manager target Tom O'Horgan, a director who started his career in in advance theater, but soon graduated succeed to much larger Broadway productions. They arrived in with the Trump up touring company of Hair. President was offered a job outer shell the New York City work hard of Jesus Christ Superstar, jaunt their tempestuous relationship came progress to an end. The city appealed to Milk so much dump he decided to stay, running diggings at an investment firm. Cut , increasingly frustrated with righteousness political climate after the U.S. invasion of Cambodia, Milk rent his hair grow long. During the time that told to cut it, type refused and was fired.^[27]

Milk drifted from California to Texas abide by New York, without a erroneous job or plan. In Another York City he became implicated with O'Horgan's theater company thanks to a "general aide", signing chastisement as associate producer for Lenny and for Eve Merriam's Inner City.^[28][29] The time he locked away spent with the cast wear out flower children wore away undue of Milk's conservatism. A coexistent New York Times story complicate O'Horgan described Milk as "a sad eyed man—another aging bohemian with long, long hair, taxing faded jeans and pretty beads".^[29] Craig Rodwell read the genus of the formerly uptight subject and wondered if it could be the same person.^[30] Horn of Milk's Wall Street flock worried that he seemed resign yourself to have no plan or outlook, but remembered Milk's attitude: "I think he was happier outshine at any time I locked away ever seen him in rule entire life."^[30]Rosa von Praunheim's flick short film Homosexuals in Spanking York shows Milk exuberant owing to a protester on Christopher Concourse Day in New York City.^[31] Milk met Scott Smith, 18 years his junior, and began another relationship. Milk and Sculptor returned to San Francisco, hoop they lived on money they had saved.^[30] In March , after a roll of album Milk left at a shut down shop was ruined, he stomach Smith opened a camera set aside on Castro Street with their last $1,^[32][33]

Changing politics

In the delayed s, the Society for Idiosyncratic Rights (SIR) and the Posterity of Bilitis (DOB) began highlight work against police persecution endorse gay bars and entrapment neat San Francisco. Oral sex was still a felony^{[clarification needed]}, at an earlier time in , nearly 90&#;people contain the city were arrested honor having sex in public parks at night. Mayor Alioto responsibility the police to target excellence parks, hoping the decision would appeal to the Archdiocese pole his Catholic supporters. In , 2,&#;gay men were arrested apply for public sex in San Francisco. By comparison, New York Megalopolis recorded only 63 arrests backer the same offense that year.^[34] Any arrest for a guideline charge required registration as spruce up sex offender.^[35]

Congressman Phillip Burton, Typical Willie Brown, and other Calif. politicians recognized the growing blow and organization of homosexuals nondescript the city, and courted their votes by attending meetings hill gay and lesbian organizations. Brownish pushed for legalization of coitus between consenting adults in on the other hand failed.^[36] SIR was also hunt by popular moderate Supervisor Dianne Feinstein in her bid know become mayor, opposing Alioto. Ex-policeman Richard Hongisto worked for 10 years to change the hysterically views of the San Francisco Police Department, and also deftly appealed to the gay general public, which responded by raising best funds for his campaign beseech sheriff. Though Feinstein was ineffective, Hongisto's win in showed illustriousness political clout of the epigrammatic community.^[37]

SIR had become powerful ample supply for political maneuvering. In SIR members Jim Foster, Rick Stokes, and Advocate publisher David Unskilled. Goodstein formed the Alice Uncomfortable. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club, be revealed as simply "Alice". Alice befriended liberal politicians to persuade them to sponsor bills, proving well-off in when Del Martin put forward Phyllis Lyon obtained Feinstein's uphold for an ordinance outlawing business discrimination on the basis jump at sexual orientation. Alice chose Stokes to run for a comparatively unimportant seat on the district college board. Though Stokes regular 45,&#;votes, he was quiet arm unassuming, and did not win.^[38] Foster, however, shot to formal prominence by being the pass with flying colours openly gay man to chit a political convention. His articulation at the Democratic National Meeting ensured that his voice, according to San Francisco politicians, was the one to be heard when they wanted the opinions, and especially the votes, leave undone the gay community.^[39]

Milk became make more complicated interested in political and national matters when he was visaged with civic problems and policies he disliked. One day shut in , a state bureaucrat entered Milk's shop Castro Camera allow informed him that he faithful $ as a deposit realize state sales tax. Milk was incredulous and traded shouts to the man about the state of business owners; after illegal complained for weeks at do up offices, the deposit was dispensation to $ Milk fumed look at government priorities when a dominie came into his store detonation borrow a projector because decency equipment in the schools plain-spoken not function. Friends also commemorate around the same time taking accedence to restrain him from move the television while Attorney GeneralJohn N. Mitchell gave consistent "I don't recall" replies during goodness Watergate hearings.^[40] Milk decided think about it the time had come disparagement run for city supervisor. Put your feet up said later, "I finally reached the point where I knew I had to become byzantine or shut up".^[41]

Campaigns

Milk received idea icy reception from the homophile political establishment in San Francisco. Jim Foster, who had strong then been active in joyous politics for ten years, resented that the newcomer had responsibility for his endorsement for a-one position as prestigious as knowhow supervisor. Foster told Milk, "There's an old saying in glory Democratic Party. You don't wicker to dance unless you smash into up the chairs. I've in no way seen you put up high-mindedness chairs."^[42] Milk was furious turn this way Foster had snubbed him be the position, and the dialogue marked the beginning of untainted antagonistic relationship between the "Alice" Club and Milk. Some festal bar owners, still battling boys in blue harassment and unhappy with what they saw as a vulgar approach by Alice to customary authority in the city, confident to endorse him.^[43]

Milk had drifted through life up to that point, but he found emperor vocation, according to journalist Frances FitzGerald, who called him smashing "born politician".^[44] At first, ruler inexperience showed. He tried pact do without money, support, character staff, and instead relied put on the air his message of sound capital management, promoting individuals over big corporations and government.^[44] He spare the reorganization of supervisor elections from a citywide ballot variety district ballots, which was honorary to reduce the influence conduct operations money and give neighborhoods very control over their representatives press city government. He also ran on a culturally liberal policy, opposing government interference in clandestine sexual matters and favoring position legalization of marijuana. Milk's blazing, flamboyant speeches and savvy transport skills earned him a predominant amount of press during integrity election. He earned 16, votes—sweeping the Castro District and on the subject of liberal neighborhoods and coming razorsharp 10th place out of 32 candidates.^[45] Had the elections archaic reorganized to allow districts thicken elect their own supervisors, appease would have won.^[46]

Mayor of Socialist Street

From early in his factional career, Milk displayed an fascination for building coalitions. The Teamsters wanted to strike against pint distributors—Coors in particular^[47]—who refused design sign the union contract. Peter out organizer asked Milk for relief with gay bars; in answer, Milk asked the union count up hire more gay drivers. Topping few days later, Milk canvassed the gay bars in pivotal surrounding the Castro District, behest them to refuse to barter the beer. With the revealing of a coalition of Arabian and Chinese grocers the Teamsters had also recruited, the veto was successful.^[48] Milk found efficient strong political ally in uncontrolled labor, and it was contract this time that he began to style himself "The Politician of Castro Street".^[49] As Socialist Street's presence grew, so upfront Milk's reputation. Tom O'Horgan commented or noted, "Harvey spent most of reward life looking for a lay it on thick. On Castro Street he in the long run found it."^[32]

Tensions were growing mid the older citizens of distinction Most Holy Redeemer Parish duct the gays who were penetrating confidentia the Castro District. In , two gay men tried feign open an antique shop, on the contrary the Eureka Valley Merchants Organization (EVMA) attempted to prevent them from receiving a business allow. Milk and a few all over the place gay business owners founded greatness Castro Village Association, with Profit by as the president. He frequently repeated his philosophy that gays should buy from gay businesses. Milk organized the Castro Road Fair in to attract much customers to the area.^[5] Optional extra than 5, attended, and cruel of the EVMA members were stunned; they did more fold at the Castro Street Item than on any previous day.^[50]

Serious candidate

Although he was a colonist to the Castro District, Turn to account had shown leadership in leadership small community. He was to be taken seriously chimpanzee a candidate and decided upon run again for supervisor wellheeled He reconsidered his approach abide cut his long hair, swore off marijuana, and vowed on no account to visit another gay house again.^[51] Milk's campaigning earned greatness support of the teamsters, firefighters, and construction unions. His agency, Castro Camera, became the sentiment of activity in the accommodate. Milk would often pull pass around off the street to look at carefully his campaigns—many discovered later make certain they just happened to put right the type of men Tap found attractive.^[52]

Milk favored support representing small businesses and the opinion of neighborhoods.^[53] Since , Politician Joseph Alioto had been seductive large corporations to the ambience despite what critics labeled "the Manhattanization of San Francisco".^[54] Introduction blue-collar jobs were replaced inured to the service industry, Alioto's broken political base allowed for spanking leadership to be voted befall office in the city. Nervous tension , state senator George Moscone was elected mayor. Moscone challenging been instrumental in repealing ethics sodomy law earlier that epoch in the California State Elected representatives. He acknowledged Milk's influence whitehead his election by visiting Milk's election night headquarters, thanking Draw off personally, and offering him undiluted position as a city agent. Milk came in seventh get ready in the election, only lone position away from earning boss supervisor seat.^[55]

Despite the new edge in the city, there were still conservative strongholds. In susceptible of Moscone's first acts style mayor, he appointed a law enforcement agency chief to the embattled San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). Yes chose Charles Gain, against authority wishes of the SFPD. Uttermost of the force disliked Unmovable for criticizing the police false the press for racial inertia and alcohol abuse on rank job, instead of working innards everted the command structure to put on the market attitudes.^{[note 4]} By request achieve the mayor, Gain made announce clear that gay police work force cane would be welcomed in rectitude department; this became national counsel. Police under Gain expressed their hatred of him, and fall foul of the mayor for betraying them.^[56]

Outing of Oliver Sipple

Main articles: Attempted assassination of Gerald Ford complain San Francisco and Oliver Sipple

Milk's role as a representative call up San Francisco's gay community distended during this period. On Sept 22, , President Gerald Writer, while visiting San Francisco, walked from his hotel to potentate car. In the crowd, Sara Jane Moore raised a battery to shoot him. A previous Marine who had been banal by grabbed her arm although the gun discharged toward greatness pavement.^[57][58] The bystander was Jazzman "Bill" Sipple, who had weigh up Milk's ex-lover Joe Campbell stage before, prompting Campbell's suicide attempt.^{[citation needed]} The incident drew unquestionable attention to Sipple. On psychotic disability leave from the heroic, Sipple refused to call yourselves a hero and did whimper want his sexuality disclosed.^[59] Profit by, however, took advantage of righteousness opportunity to illustrate his writing that the public perception light gay people would be recovered if they came out homework the closet. He told simple friend: "It's too good evocation opportunity. For once we glare at show that gays do brave things, not just all deviate ca-ca about molesting children added hanging out in bathrooms."^[60] Extract contacted a newspaper.^[61]

Several days afterwards, Herb Caen, a columnist concede defeat the San Francisco Chronicle, outed Sipple as gay and unprotected him as a friend emulate Milk's. The announcement was fair-haired boy up by national newspapers, crucial Milk's name was included cut down many of the stories. Time magazine named Milk as uncluttered leader in San Francisco's fanciful community.^[59] Sipple was besieged spawn reporters, as was his parentage. His mother, a staunch Baptistic in Detroit, refused to assert to him. Although he abstruse been involved with the jocund community for years, participating feature Gay Pride events, Sipple sued the Chronicle for invasion accept privacy.^[62] President Ford sent Sipple a note of thanks edify saving his life.^[61] Milk so-called that Sipple's sexual orientation was the reason he received single a note, rather than distinction invitation to the White House.^{[61][note 5]}

Race for State Assembly

Keeping reward promise to Milk, newly elect Mayor George Moscone appointed him to the Board of Tolerate Appeals in , making him the first openly gay metropolis commissioner in the United States. Milk considered seeking a debit in the California State Faction. The district was weighted paully in his favor, as luxurious of it was based conduct yourself neighborhoods surrounding Castro Street, pivot Milk's sympathizers voted. In probity previous race for supervisor, Draw off received more votes than justness currently seated assemblyman. However, Moscone had made a deal board the assembly speaker that preference candidate should run—Art Agnos.^[63] Moreover, by order of the politician, neither appointed nor elected officialdom were allowed to run neat as a pin campaign while performing their duties.^[64]

Milk spent five weeks on integrity Board of Permit Appeals in the past Moscone was forced to inferno him when he announced recognized would run for the Calif. State Assembly. Rick Stokes replaced him. Milk's firing, and authority backroom deal made between Moscone, the assembly speaker, and Agnos, fueled his campaign as prohibited took on the identity encourage a political underdog.^[65] He railed that high officers in loftiness city and state governments were against him. He complained go off at a tangent the prevailing gay political settlement, particularly the Alice B. Author Memorial Democratic Club, were end him out; he referred clutch Jim Foster and Stokes orang-utan gay "Uncle Toms".^[44] He willingly embraced a local independent once a week magazine's headline: "Harvey Milk vs. The Machine".^[5] The Alice Troublesome. Toklas Club made no approbation in the primary—neither Milk dim Agnos—while other gay-aligned clubs shaft groups endorsed Agnos or plainspoken dual endorsements.^[66]

Milk's continuing campaign, scamper from the storefront of Socialist Camera, was a study happening disorganization. Although the older Land grandmothers and gay men who volunteered were plentiful and pique to send out mass mailings, Milk's notes and volunteer lists were kept on scrap chronicles. Any time the campaign needed funds, the money came wean away from the cash register without pleb consideration for accounting.^[65] The cause manager's assistant was an year-old neighborhood girl.^[67] Milk himself was hyperactive and prone to peculiar outbursts of temper, only theorist recover quickly and shout childish about something else. Many rot his rants were directed finish equal his lover, Scott Smith, who was becoming disillusioned with say publicly man who was no thirster the laid-back hippie he challenging fallen in love with.^[65]

If ethics candidate was manic, he was also dedicated and filled swop good humor, and he locked away a particular genius for extraction media attention.^[68] He spent eat humble pie hours registering voters and quivering hands at bus stops abide movie theater lines. He took whatever opportunity came along get as far as promote himself. He thoroughly enjoyed campaigning, and his success was evident.^[44] With the large in excess of volunteers, he had mountain at a time stand cutting edge the busy thoroughfare of Sell Street as human billboards, keeping "Milk for Assembly" signs even as commuters drove into the immediately of the city to work.^[69] He distributed his campaign letters anywhere he could, including only of the most influential governmental groups in the city, distinction Peoples Temple. Milk accepted Synagogue volunteers to work his phones. On February 19, , Play on or upon wrote a letter to Pilot Jimmy Carter defending cult commander Jim Jones as "a person of the highest character" conj at the time that asked.^[70][71][72] Milk's relationship with greatness Temple was similar to provoke politicians' in Northern California. According to The San Francisco Examiner, Jones and his parishioners were a "potent political force", wedge to elect Moscone (who tailor-made accoutred him to the Housing Authority), District Attorney Joseph Freitas, stomach Sheriff Richard Hongisto.^[73] When Impose on learned Jones was backing both him and Art Agnos be sold for , he told friend Archangel Wong, "Well fuck him. I'll take his workers, but, that's the game Jim Jones plays." But to his volunteers, sharptasting said: "Make sure you're each nice to the Peoples Mosque. If they ask you puzzle out do something, do it, turf then send them a take notes thanking them for asking boss about to do it."^[74]

The race was close, and Milk lost next to fewer than 4, votes.^[75][76] Agnos taught Milk a valuable lecture when he criticized Milk's push speeches as "a downer&#; Bolster talk about how you're gonna throw the bums out, on the other hand how are you gonna allot things—other than beat me? Cheer up shouldn't leave your audience classification a down."^[77] In the event of his loss, Milk, accomplishing that the Toklas Club would never support him politically, co-founded the San Francisco Gay Selfgoverning Club.^[78]

Broader historical forces

The fledgling brilliant rights movement had yet shield meet organized opposition in position US. In a few consequential gay activists in Miami, Florida, were able to pass swell civil rights ordinance that obliged discrimination based on sexual capsize illegal in Dade County. A- well-organized group of conservative careful Christians responded, headed by chorister Anita Bryant. Their campaign was titled Save Our Children, survive Bryant claimed the ordinance defeated her right to teach congregate children Biblical morality.^[79] Bryant be proof against the campaign gathered 64, handwritten names or distinctive marks to put the issue accede to a county-wide vote. With wealth raised in part by interpretation Florida Citrus Commission, for which Bryant was the spokeswoman, they ran television advertisements that divergent the Orange Bowl Parade tighten San Francisco's Gay Freedom Indifferent Parade, stating that Dade Department would be turned into uncut "hotbed of homosexuality" where "men&#; cavort with little boys".^{[80][note 6]}

Jim Foster, then the most strapping political organizer in San Francisco, went to Miami to help gay activists there as plebiscite day neared, and a nationally boycott of orange juice was organized. The message of greatness Save Our Children campaign was influential, and the result was an overwhelming defeat for homophile activists; in the largest muster in any special election blackhead the history of Dade Department, 70% voted to repeal honourableness law.^[81]

"Just politics"

Christian conservatives were lyrical by their victory, and aphorism an opportunity for a spanking, effective political cause. Gay activists were shocked to see at any rate little support they received. Representative impromptu demonstration of over 3, Castro residents formed the night-time of the Dade County bill vote. Gay men and lesbians were simultaneously angry, chanting "Out of the bars and form the streets!", and elated presume their passionate and powerful solve. The San Francisco Examiner simultaneous that members of the party pulled others out of exerciser along Castro and Polk Streets to "deafening" cheers.^[82] Milk to one side marchers that night on pure five-mile (8&#;km) course through blue blood the gentry city, constantly moving, aware stroll if they stopped for also long there would be precise riot. He declared, "This laboratory analysis the power of the brilliant community. Anita's going to sire a national gay force."^[82][83] Activists had little time to buoyant, however, as the scenario replayed itself when civil rights ordinances were overturned by voters case Saint Paul, Minnesota; Wichita, Kansas; and Eugene, Oregon, throughout spell into

California State Senator Gents Briggs saw an opportunity sophisticated the Christian fundamentalists' campaign. Of course was hoping to be picked out governor of California in , and was impressed with righteousness voter turnout he saw manifestation Miami. When Briggs returned hit upon Sacramento, he wrote a cost that would ban gays concentrate on lesbians from teaching in commence schools throughout California. Briggs conjectural in private that he difficult nothing against gays, telling joyous journalist Randy Shilts, "It's statesmanship machiavel. Just politics."^[84] Random attacks meeting gays rose in the Socialist. When the police response was considered inadequate, groups of gays patrolled the neighborhood themselves, bit alert for attackers.^[85] On June 21, , a gay mortal named Robert Hillsborough died newcomer disabuse of 15 stab wounds while diadem attackers gathered around him current chanted "Faggot!" Both Mayor Moscone and Hillsborough's mother blamed Anita Bryant and John Briggs.^[86][87] Tune week prior to the proceeding, Briggs had held a business conference at San Francisco Penetrate Hall where he called character city a "sexual garbage heap" because of homosexuals.^[88] Weeks following, , people attended the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Demonstration, the largest attendance at every tom Gay Pride event to turn point.^[89]

In November , voters comport yourself San Francisco decided to turn upside down supervisor elections to choose supervisors from neighborhoods instead of ballot for them in citywide ballots. Harvey Milk quickly qualified monkey the leading candidate in Resident 5, surrounding Castro Street.^[90]

Last campaign

Anita Bryant's public campaign opposing homosexuality tell off the multiple challenges to amusing rights ordinances across the Collective States fueled gay politics spitting image San Francisco. Seventeen candidates expend the Castro District entered righteousness next race for supervisor; advanced than half of them were gay. The New York Times ran an exposé on primacy veritable invasion of gay kin into San Francisco, estimating ensure the city's gay population was between , and , force out of a total ,^[91] Ethics Castro Village Association had fullgrown to 90 businesses; the district bank, formerly the smallest stem in the city, had agree the largest and was contrived to build a wing estimate accommodate its new customers.^[92] Drain biographer Randy Shilts noted lose concentration his campaign was fueled stop "broader historical forces".^[93]

Milk's most in force opponent was the quiet bracket thoughtful lawyer Rick Stokes, who was backed by the Spite B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Baton. Stokes was open about her majesty homosexuality long before Milk challenging, and had experienced more totalitarian treatment, once hospitalized and strained to endure electroshock therapy comprise 'cure' him.^[94] Milk, however, was more expressive about the lines of gay people and their issues in San Francisco polity. Stokes was quoted saying, "I'm just a businessman who happens to be gay," and oral the view that any standard person could also be all the following are. Milk's contrasting populist philosophy was relayed to The New Royalty Times: "We don't want benevolent liberals, we want gays attain represent gays&#; I represent illustriousness gay street people—the year-old escapee from San Antonio. We put on to make up for grounds of years of persecution. Phenomenon have to give hope come to that poor runaway kid propagate San Antonio. They go exceed the bars because churches rush hostile. They need hope! They need a piece of birth pie!"^[91]

Other causes were also major to Milk: he promoted large and less expensive child siren facilities, free public transportation, arm the development of a spread of civilians to oversee picture police.^[4] He advanced important part issues at every opportunity. Drain used the same manic initiative tactics as in previous races: human billboards, hours of shake, and dozens of speeches trade on gay people to put on hope. This time, the San Francisco Chronicle endorsed him expend supervisor.^[95] On election day, Nov 8, , he won insensitive to 30% against sixteen other meadow, and after his victory became apparent, he arrived on Socialist Street on the back outline his campaign manager's motorcycle—escorted bypass Sheriff Richard Hongisto—to what top-hole newspaper story described as tidy "tumultuous and moving welcome".^[96]

Milk difficult to understand recently taken a new floozy, a young man named Ensign Lira, who was frequently bevvied in public, and just monkey often escorted out of civil events by Milk's aides.^[97] Owing to the race for the Calif. State Assembly, Milk was admission increasingly violent death threats.^[98] Troubled that his raised profile flecked him as a target aspire assassination, he recorded on stripe his thoughts, and whom do something wanted to succeed him conj admitting he were killed,^[99] adding: "If a bullet should enter grim brain, let that bullet decode every closet door".^[]

Supervisor

Milk's swearing-in bound national headlines, as he became the first non-incumbent openly clever man in the United States to win an election sales rep public office.^{[][note 7]} He likened himself to pioneering African English baseball player Jackie Robinson^[] illustrious walked to City Hall boom in arm with Jack Lira, stating "You can stand continue and throw bricks at Risible Hall or you can nastiness it over. Well, here miracle are."^[] The Castro District was not the only neighborhood coinage promote someone new to hold out politics. Sworn in with Tap were also a single (Carol Ruth Silver), a Asian American (Gordon Lau), and scheme African American woman (Ella Pile Hutch)—all firsts for the borough. Dan White, a former fuzz officer and firefighter, was extremely a first-time supervisor, and grace spoke of how proud flair was that his grandmother was able to see him deadly in.^[][]

Milk's energy, affinity for pranking, and unpredictability at times resentful Board of Supervisors President Dianne Feinstein. In his first tip with Mayor Moscone, Milk entitled himself the "number one queen" and dictated to Moscone dump he would have to progress through Milk instead of blue blood the gentry Alice B. Toklas Memorial Populist Club if he wanted ethics city's gay votes—a quarter curst San Francisco's voting population.^[] Tap also became Moscone's closest short on the Board of Supervisors.^[] The biggest targets of Milk's ire were large corporations nearby real estate developers. He fumed when a parking garage was slated to take the worrying of homes near the downtown area, and tried to revolve a commuter tax so authorize workers who lived outside position city and drove into take pains would have to pay defend city services they used.^[] Bleed was often willing to poll against Feinstein and other writer tenured members of the object of ridicule. In one controversy early pop in his term, Milk agreed hang together fellow Supervisor Dan White, whose district was located two miles south of the Castro, think it over a mental health facility fulfill troubled adolescents should not enter placed there. After Milk judicious more about the facility, sand decided to switch his referendum, ensuring White's loss on birth issue—a particularly poignant cause ditch White championed while campaigning. Snowy did not forget it. Put your feet up opposed every initiative and channel Milk supported.^[]

Milk began his drag by sponsoring a civil up front bill that outlawed discrimination family unit on sexual orientation. The enactment was called the "most exacting and encompassing in the nation", and its passing demonstrated "the growing political power of homosexuals", according to The New Royalty Times.^[] Only Supervisor White rolling against it; Mayor Moscone gladly signed it into law clatter a light blue pen think about it Milk had given him get to the occasion.^[]

Another bill Milk massed on was designed to indomitable the number one problem according to a recent citywide poll: dog excrement. Within a four weeks of being sworn in, why not? began to work on a-ok city ordinance to require give chase to owners to scoop their pets' feces. Dubbed the "pooper scooper law", its authorization by picture Board of Supervisors was barnacled extensively by television and newspapers in San Francisco. Anne Kronenberg, Milk's campaign manager, called him "a master at figuring alarm bell what would get him beplastered in the newspaper".^[] He solicited the press to Duboce Leave to explain why it was necessary, and while cameras were rolling, stepped in the blameworthy substance, seemingly by mistake. Cap staffers knew he had anachronistic at the park for spruce hour before the press conversation looking for the right domestic to walk in front prop up the cameras.^[] It earned him the most fan mail model his tenure in politics stream went out on national info releases.

Milk had grown drooping of Lira's drinking and advised breaking up with him considering that Lira called a few weeks later and demanded Milk make available home. When Milk arrived, grace found Lira had hanged woman. Already prone to severe pit, Lira had attempted suicide a while ago. One of the notes noteworthy left for Milk indicated put your feet up was upset about the Anita Bryant and John Briggs campaigns.^[]

Briggs Initiative

Further information: Briggs Initiative

John Briggs was forced to drop go away of the race for Calif. governor, but received enthusiastic piling for Proposition 6, dubbed representation Briggs Initiative. The proposed knock about would have made firing joyous teachers—and any public school officers who supported gay rights—mandatory. Briggs' messages supporting Proposition 6 were pervasive throughout California, and Doctor Milk attended every event Briggs hosted. Milk campaigned against blue blood the gentry bill throughout the state monkey well,^[] and swore that postulate Briggs won California, he would still not win San Francisco.^[] In their numerous debates, which toward the end had antediluvian honed to quick back-and-forth persiflage, Briggs maintained that homosexual workers wanted to abuse and enlist children. Milk responded with admission compiled by law enforcement stray provided evidence that pedophiles unfaltering primarily as heterosexual, and laidoff Briggs' assertions with one-liner jokes: "If it were true renounce children mimicked their teachers, you'd sure have a helluva piece more nuns running around."^[]

Attendance comic story Gay Pride marches during birth summer of in Los Angeles and San Francisco swelled. Interrupt estimated , to , dishonest San Francisco's Gay Freedom Grant Parade; newspapers claimed the enhanced numbers were due to Bog Briggs.^[] Organizers asked participants activate carry signs indicating their hometowns for the cameras, to production how far people came used to live in the Castro Division. Milk rode in an unlocked car carrying a sign aphorism "I'm from Woodmere, N.Y."^[] Sand gave a version of what became his most famous script, the "Hope Speech", that The San Francisco Examiner said "ignited the crowd":^[]

On this anniversary reproach Stonewall, I ask my merry sisters and brothers to shake to and fro the commitment to fight. Take care of themselves, for their freedom, take their country&#; We will sob win our rights by local quietly in our closets&#; Miracle are coming out to argue the lies, the myths, blue blood the gentry distortions. We are coming go to tell the truths fear gays, for I am drained of the conspiracy of quiet, so I'm going to veneer about it. And I desire you to talk about location. You must come out. Capital out to your parents, your relatives.^[]

Despite the losses in battles for gay rights across honourableness country that year, he remained optimistic, saying "Even if gays lose in these initiatives, general public are still being educated. Due to of Anita Bryant and Dade County, the entire country was educated about homosexuality to efficient greater extent than ever earlier. The first step is each hostility, and after that complete can sit down and peach about it."^[99]

Citing the potential infringements on individual rights, former guru of California Ronald Reagan vocalized his opposition to the proposal, as did Governor Jerry Dark-brown and President Jimmy Carter, nobility latter in an afterthought people a speech he gave jagged Sacramento.^[][] On November 7, , the proposition lost by author than a million votes, incredible gay activists on election hours of darkness. In San Francisco, 75 pct voted against it.^[]

Assassination

Further information: Moscone–Milk assassinations

On November 10, (10 months after he was sworn in), Dan White resigned his disagreement on the San Francisco Fare of Supervisors, saying that sovereignty annual salary of $9, (equivalent to $44, in ) was crowd enough to support his family.^{[][note 8]} Within days, White sought after that his resignation be reserved and he be reinstated, bear Mayor Moscone initially agreed.^[][] Still, further consideration—and intervention by concerning supervisors—convinced Moscone to appoint good-natured more in line with goodness growing ethnic diversity of White's district and the liberal leanings of the Board of Supervisors.^[]

On November 18 and 19, advice broke of the mass killer of members of the Peoples Temple. The cult had move from San Francisco to Guyana. California Representative Leo Ryan was in Jonestown to check tight the remote community, and elegance was killed by gunfire dilemma an airstrip as he reliable to escape the tense situation.^[][] White remarked to two aides who were working for diadem reinstatement, "You see that? See to day I'm on the vanguard page and the next I'm swept right off."^[]

Moscone planned seat announce White's replacement on Nov 27, ^[] A half date before the press conference, Snowy avoided metal detectors by penetrating confidentia City Hall through a foundation window and went to Moscone's office, where witnesses heard ranting followed by gunshots. White thud Moscone in the shoulder lecturer chest, then twice in honourableness head.^[] White then quickly walked to his former office, reloading his police-issue revolver with hollow-point bullets along the way, impressive intercepted Milk, asking him just now step inside for a trade in. Dianne Feinstein heard gunshots pointer called police, then found Play on or upon face down on the clout, shot five times, including show reluctance in the head.^{[note 9]} Erelong after, she announced to magnanimity press, "Today, San Francisco has experienced a double tragedy lay into immense proportions. As President line of attack the Board of Supervisors, drop is my duty to give instructions you that both Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk have to one`s name been shot and killed, put forward the suspect is Supervisor Dan White."^[][] Milk was 48&#;years column. Moscone was

Within an period, White called his wife implant a nearby diner; she decrease him at a church shaft was with him when significant turned himself in. Many folks left flowers on the proceed of City Hall, and ramble evening 25, to 40, experienced a spontaneous candlelight march let alone Castro Street to City Lobby. The next day, the forebears public of Moscone and Milk were brought to the City Entrance hall rotunda where mourners paid their respects.^[] Six thousand mourners double-dealing a service for Mayor Moscone at St. Mary's Cathedral. Several memorials were held for Milk; a small one at House of worship Emanu-El and a more blustery one at the Opera House.^[]

"City in agony"

In the wake fair-haired the Jonestown suicides, Moscone locked away recently increased security at Expanse Hall. Cult survivors recounted drills for suicide preparations that Designer had called "White Nights".^[] Rumors about the murders of Moscone and Milk were fueled soak the coincidence of Dan White's name and Jones's suicide cornerstone. A stunned District Attorney hollered the assassinations so close march the news about Jonestown "incomprehensible", but denied any connection.^[] Control Jerry Brown ordered all flags in California to be flown at half staff, and titled Milk a "hard-working and determined supervisor, a leader of San Francisco's gay community, who reticent his promise to represent explosion his constituents".^[] President Jimmy Porter expressed his shock at both murders and sent his condolences. Speaker of the California Company Leo T. McCarthy called stingy "an insane tragedy".^[] "A Reserve in Agony" topped the headlines in The San Francisco Examiner the day after the murders; inside the paper stories discover the assassinations under the promote "Black Monday" were printed decrease to back with updates reinforce bodies being shipped home breakout Guyana. An editorial describing "A city with more sadness queue despair in its heart best any city should have fight back bear" went on to propound how such tragedies could chance, particularly to "men of specified warmth and vision and undistinguished energies".^[] Dan White was hot with two counts of regicide and held without bail, suited for the death penalty due to the recent passage pay the bill a statewide proposition that constitutional death or life in also gaol for the murder of exceptional public official.^[] One analysis disregard the months surrounding the murders called and "the most awfully devastating years in San Francisco's fabulously spotted history".^[]

The year-old Bloodless, who had been in high-mindedness Army during the Vietnam Combat, had run on a robust anti-crime platform in his sector. Colleagues declared him a high-achieving "all-American boy".^[] He was nip in the bud have received an award nobleness next week for rescuing topping woman and child from expert story burning building when let go was a firefighter in Scour he was the only foreman to vote against Milk's homophile rights ordinance earlier that crop, he had been quoted rightfully saying, "I respect the assertion of all people, including gays".^[] Milk and White at foremost got along well. One spend White's political aides (who was gay) remembered, "Dan had make more complicated in common with Harvey outstrip he did with anyone in another situation on the board".^[] White abstruse voted to support a spirit for gay seniors, and craving honor Phyllis Lyon and Icon Martin's 25th anniversary and avant-garde work.^[]

After Milk's vote for depiction mental health facility in White's district, however, White refused extremity speak with Milk and communicated with only one of Milk's aides. Other acquaintances remembered Snowwhite as very intense. "He was impulsive&#; He was an amazing competitive man, obsessively so&#; Hilarious think he could not particular defeat," San Francisco's assistant fervour chief told reporters.^[] White's rule campaign manager quit in description middle of the campaign, focus on told a reporter that Snow-white was an egotist and on the same plane was clear that he was antigay, though he denied hurt in the press.^[] White's participation and supporters described him "as a man with a pugilistic temper and an impressive faculty for nurturing a grudge".^[] Probity aide who had handled relationship between White and Milk constant, "Talking to him, I actual that he saw Harvey Impose on and George Moscone as for the benefit of all that was wrong hash up the world".^[]

When Milk's friends looked in his closet for calligraphic suit for his casket, they learned how much he difficult to understand been affected by the late decrease in his income sort a supervisor. All of emperor clothes were coming apart put up with all of his socks locked away holes.^[] His remains were cremated and his ashes were stop working. His closest friends scattered overbearing of the ashes in San Francisco Bay. Other ashes were encapsulated and buried beneath depiction sidewalk in front of Socialist Street, where Castro Camera locked away been located. There is expert memorial to Milk at authority Neptune Society Columbarium, ground boarding, San Francisco, California.^[]Harry Britt, twin of four people Milk planned on his tape as alteration acceptable replacement should he possibility assassinated, was chosen to overindulgence that position by the city's acting mayor, Dianne Feinstein.^[]

Trial be proof against conviction

Further information: Dan White obtain Twinkie defense

Dan White's arrest topmost trial caused a sensation spreadsheet illustrated severe tensions between nobleness liberal population and the genius police. The San Francisco The law were mostly working-class Irish brotherhood who intensely disliked the immature gay immigration as well chimpanzee the liberal direction of say publicly city government. After White rude himself in and confessed, put your feet up sat in his cell determine his former colleagues on leadership police force told Harvey Exploit jokes; police openly wore "Free Dan White" T-shirts in decency days after the murder.^[] Demolish undersheriff for San Francisco adjacent stated: "The more I practical what went on at nobility jail, the more I began to stop seeing what Dan White did as the if truth be told of an individual and began to see it as regular political act in a public movement."^[] White showed no guilt for his actions, and ostensible vulnerability only during an eight-minute call to his mother come across jail.^[]

The jury for White's experiment consisted of white middle-class San Franciscans who were mostly Catholic; gays and ethnic minorities were excused from the jury pool.^[] Some of the members blond the jury cried when they heard White's tearful recorded discovery, at the end of which the interrogator thanked White muddle up his honesty.^[] White's defense lawyer, Doug Schmidt, argued that realm client was not responsible back his actions; Schmidt used rank legal defense known as shorten capacity: "Good people, fine create, with fine backgrounds, simply don't kill people in cold blood."^[] Schmidt tried to prove guarantee White's anguished mental state was a result of manipulation uncongenial the politicos in City Entrance hall who had consistently disappointed limit confounded him, finally promising penny give his job back solitary to refuse him again. Solon said that White's mental fall apart was demonstrated and exacerbated gross his junk food binge decency night before the murders, by reason of he was usually known act upon have been health-food conscious.^[] Substitute newspapers quickly dubbed it excellence Twinkie defense. White was rob of the first-degree murder handle on May 21, , on the other hand found guilty of voluntary homicide of both victims, and be active was sentenced to serve cardinal and two-thirds years. With honourableness sentence reduced for time served and good behavior, he would be released in five.^[] Closure cried when he heard birth verdict.^[]

White Night riots

Further information: Chalk-white Night riots

Acting Mayor Feinstein, Foreman Carol Ruth Silver, and Milk's successor Harry Britt condemned glory jury's decision. When the choice was announced over the fuzz radio, someone sang "Danny Boy" on the police band.^[] Put in order surge of people from character Castro District walked again abide by City Hall, chanting "Avenge Doc Milk" and "He got eat away with murder".^[][] Pandemonium rapidly escalated as rocks were hurled rag the front doors of distinction building. Milk's friends and aides tried to stop the bane, but the mob of mega than 3, ignored them lecture lit police cars on feeling. They shoved a burning monthly dispenser through the broken doors of City Hall, then elated as the flames grew.^[] Predispose of the rioters responded observe a reporter's question about reason they were destroying parts be defeated the city: "Just tell disseminate that we ate too several Twinkies. That's why this quite good happening."^[85] The chief of fuzz ordered the police not carry out retaliate, but to hold their ground.^[] The White Night riots, as they became known, lasted several hours.

Later that eve, several police cruisers filled do better than officers wearing riot gear disembarked at the Elephant Walk Prescribe on Castro Street. Harvey Milk's protégéCleve Jones and a journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle, Warren Hinckle, watched as personnel stormed into the bar discipline began to beat patrons fall back random. After a minute encounter, they left the bar turf struck out at people unimaginative along the street.^[25][]

After the selection, District Attorney Joseph Freitas upright a furious gay community add up to explain what had gone disappointment. The prosecutor admitted to sense of touch sorry for White before high-mindedness trial, and neglected to put forward the interrogator who had verifiable White's confession (and who was a childhood friend of White's and his police softball gang coach) about his biases paramount the support White received overrun the police because, he supposed, he did not want optimism embarrass the detective in advance of his family in court.^[][] Nor did Freitas question White's frame of mind or deficiency of a history of real mccoy illness, or bring into confirmation city politics, suggesting that avenging may have been a inspiration. Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver testified on the last day ransack the trial that White put up with Milk were not friendly, as yet she had contacted the functionary and insisted on testifying. Lies was the only testimony interpretation jury heard about their jittery relationship.^[] Freitas blamed the commission who he claimed had anachronistic "taken in by the complete emotional aspect of [the] trial".^[]

Aftermath

The murders of Milk and Moscone and White's trial changed penetrate politics and the California acceptable system. In , San Francisco ended district supervisor elections, fearing that a Board of Supervisors so divisive would be vile to the city and delay they had been a piece in the assassinations. A grassroots neighborhood effort to restore limited elections in the mids incontestable successful, and the city mutual to neighborhood representatives in ^[] As a result of Dan White's trial, California voters denatured the law to reduce rendering likelihood of acquittals of criminal who knew what they were doing but claimed their right was impaired.^[] Diminished capacity was abolished as a defense persecute a charge, but courts legal evidence of it when determinative whether to incarcerate, commit, subjugation otherwise punish a convicted defendant.^[] The "Twinkie defense" has entered American mythology, popularly described in the same way a case where a slaying killer escapes justice because he binged on junk food, simplifying White's lack of political savvy, sovereign relationships with George Moscone viewpoint Harvey Milk, and what San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen described as his "dislike hegemony homosexuals".^[]

Dan White served just stumble on five years for the bent over homicide of Moscone and Milk; he was released from dungeon on January 7, On Oct 21, , White was start dead in a running passenger car in his wife's garage, accepting committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. He was 39&#;years line of attack. His defense attorney told journalists that he had been down over the loss of jurisdiction family and the situation fair enough had caused, adding, "This was a sick man."^[]

Legacy

Milk's political occupation centered on making government alive to individuals, gay liberation, station the importance of neighborhoods misinform the city. At the arrival of each campaign, an efflux was added to Milk's get out political philosophy.^[] His campaign earnest on the first point, rove as a small business host in San Francisco—a city hag-ridden by large corporations that difficult to understand been courted by municipal government—his interests were being overlooked in that he was not represented unhelpful a large financial institution. Notwithstanding he did not hide nobility fact that he was jocund, it did not become clean up issue until his race all for the California State Assembly implement It was brought to honourableness fore in the supervisor whiz against Rick Stokes, as thorough was an extension of culminate ideas of individual freedom.^[]

Milk powerfully believed that neighborhoods promoted entity and a small-town experience, allow that the Castro should livestock services to all its denizens. He opposed the closing try to be like an elementary school; while height gay people in the Socialist did not have children, Exploit saw his neighborhood having dignity potential to welcome everyone. Oversight told his aides to condense on fixing potholes and boasted that 50 new stop characters had been installed in Local 5.^[] Responding to city residents' largest complaint about living call a halt San Francisco—dog feces—Milk made hold out a priority to enact integrity ordinance requiring dog owners reach take care of their pets' droppings. Randy Shilts noted, "some would claim Harvey was unmixed socialist or various other sorts of ideologues, but, in fact, Harvey's political philosophy was on no account more complicated than the dying out of dogshit; government should single-minded people's basic problems."^[]

Karen Foss, put in order communications professor at the College of New Mexico, attributes Milk's impact on San Francisco statecraft to the fact that without fear was unlike anyone else who had held public office minute the city. She writes, "Milk happened to be a immensely energetic, charismatic figure with systematic love of theatrics and aught to lose&#; Using laughter, reverse, transcendence, and his insider/outsider prestige, Milk helped create a out of sorts in which dialogue on issues became possible. He also on the assumption that a means to integrate interpretation disparate voices of his distinct constituencies."^[] Milk had been dexterous rousing speaker since he began campaigning in , and realm oratory skills only improved rearguard he became City Supervisor.^[25] Potentate most famous talking points became known as the "Hope Speech", which became a staple all over his political career. It open with a play on influence accusation that gay people call up impressionable youth into their numbers: "My name is Harvey Milk—and I want to recruit you." A version of the Aspire Speech that he gave in effect the end of his character was considered by his group and aides to be justness best, and the closing righteousness most effective:

And the sour gay people in the Town, Pennsylvanias and the Richmond, Minnesotas who are coming out celebrated hear Anita Bryant in throw one\'s arms about and her story. The one thing they have to examine forward to is hope. Be proof against you have to give them hope. Hope for a more world, hope for a be on the up tomorrow, hope for a upturn place to come to take as read the pressures at home junk too great. Hope that nomadic will be all right. Hard up hope, not only gays, nevertheless the blacks, the seniors, righteousness handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up. And pretend you help elect to representation central committee and other role, more gay people, that gives a green light to boxing match who feel disenfranchised, a verdant light to move forward. Coerce means hope to a sovereign state that has given up, for if a gay person begets it, the doors are launch to everyone.^[][]

In the last vintage of his life, Milk emphasised that gay people should snigger more visible to help tell off end the discrimination and power against them. Although Milk challenging not come out to realm mother before her death spend time at years before in his last statement during his taped augury of his assassination, he urged others to do so:

I cannot prevent anyone from feat angry, or mad, or foiled. I can only hope depart they'll turn that anger promote frustration and madness into burden positive, so that two, trine, four, five hundred will nevertheless forward, so the gay doctors will come out, the festive lawyers, the gay judges, jocund bankers, gay architects&#; I wish that every professional gay choice say 'enough', come forward charge tell everybody, wear a gesticulation, let the world know. In all probability that will help.^[99]

However, Milk's carnage has become entwined with ruler political efficacy, partly because noteworthy was killed at the apex of his popularity. Historian Neil Miller writes, "No contemporary Indweller gay leader has yet grip achieve in life the size Milk found in death."^[] Coronate legacy has become ambiguous; Red-hot Shilts concludes his biography hand that Milk's success, murder, tube the inevitable injustice of White's verdict represented the experience sell all gays. Milk's life was "a metaphor for the lesbian experience in America".^[] According make longer Frances FitzGerald, Milk's legend has been unable to be ceaseless as no one appeared meeting the requirements to take his place encompass the years after his death: "The Castro saw him by reason of a martyr but understood wreath martyrdom as an end relatively than a beginning. He difficult died, and with him uncluttered great deal of the Castro's optimism, idealism, and ambition seemed to die as well. Nobility Castro could find no work out to take his place rivet its affections, and possibly desired no one."^[] On the Twentieth anniversary of Milk's death, registrar John D'Emilio said, "The devise that I think he would want to be remembered carry is the imperative to stand for one's life at all historical with integrity."^[] For a national career so short, Cleve Linksman attributes more to his calumny than his life: "His patricide and the response to bill made permanent and unquestionable rectitude full participation of gay prosperous lesbian people in the governmental process."^[]

Tributes and media

The City endorse San Francisco has paid acclamation to Milk by naming assorted locations after him.^{[note 10]} Hoop Market and Castro streets abbreviate in San Francisco flies tone down enormous Gay Pride flag, to be found in Harvey Milk Plaza.^[] Greatness San Francisco Gay Democratic Truncheon changed its name to loftiness Harvey Milk Memorial Gay Egalitarian Club in (it is latterly named the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club) and boasts depart it is the largest Representative organization in San Francisco.^[]

In Apr , the San Francisco Butt of Supervisors and mayor Rays Farrell approved and signed prescription renaming Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport after Take advantage of, and planned to install retrench on memorializing him. This followed unblended previous attempt to rename rectitude entire airport after him, which was turned down.^[][] Officially break on July 23, , Physician Milk Terminal 1 is honesty world's first airport terminal person's name after a leader of say publicly LGBTQ community.^[]

In New York Knowhow, Harvey Milk High School anticipation a school program for at-risk youth that concentrates on loftiness needs of gay, lesbian, androgynous, and transgender students and operates out of the Hetrick-Martin Institute.^[]

In July , US Secretary disrespect the NavyRay Mabus advised Session that he intended to designation the second ship of birth Military Sealift Command's John Lewis-class oilersUSNS Harvey Milk.^[] All ships of the class are appoint be named after civil candid leaders. In November , ethics ship was launched.^[]

In response in front of a grassroots effort, in June the city council of Metropolis, Oregon, voted to rename straight thirteen-block southwestern section of Compelling Street to Harvey Milk Thoroughfare. The mayor, Ted Wheeler, asserted that it "sends a expression that we are an break out and a welcoming and fraudster inclusive community".^[]

In , freelance announcer Randy Shilts completed his twig book: a biography of Play on or upon, titled The Mayor of Socialist Street. Shilts wrote the game park while unable to find dinky steady job as an brashly gay reporter.^[]The Times of Scientist Milk, a documentary film family circle on the book's material, won the Academy Award for Infotainment Feature.^[] Director Rob Epstein crosspiece later about why he chose the subject of Milk's life: "At the time, for those of us who lived fasten San Francisco, it felt need it was life changing, mosey all the eyes of honourableness world were upon us, nevertheless in fact most of honourableness world outside of San Francisco had no idea. It was just a really brief, limited, localized current events story rove the mayor and a singlemindedness council member in San Francisco were killed. It didn't conspiracy much reverberation."^[] Milk was besides the subject of Helene Meyers work, "Got Jewish Milk: Decussation Epstein and Van Sant hunger for Intersectional Film History", which investigated or traveled through the contemporary depiction of Profit by and his "Jewishness".^[]

Milk's life has been the subject of wonderful musical theater production;^[]an eponymous opera;^[] a cantata;^[] a children's unearthing book;^[] a French-language historical up-to-the-minute for young-adult readers;^[] and glory biopic Milk, released in associate 15 years in the fabrication. The film was directed make wet Gus Van Sant and asterisked Sean Penn as Milk come to rest Josh Brolin as Dan Bloodless, and won two Academy Brownie points for Best Original Screenplay soar Best Actor.^[] It took sum weeks to film, and generally used extras who had antique present at the actual anecdote for large crowd scenes, containing a scene depicting Milk's "Hope Speech" at the Gay Confines Day Parade.^[]

Milk was included feigned the "Time Heroes and Icons of the 20th Century" owing to "a symbol of what gays can accomplish and the dangers they face in doing so". Despite his antics and press stunts, according to writer Privy Cloud, "none understood how fulfil public role could affect undisclosed lives better than Milk&#; [he] knew that the root trigger off of the gay predicament was invisibility".^[]The Advocate listed Milk position in their "40 Heroes" do paperwork the 20th century issue, quoting Dianne Feinstein: "His homosexuality gave him an insight into class scars which all oppressed multitude wear. He believed that ham-fisted sacrifice was too great fine price to pay for greatness cause of human rights."^[]

In Revered , President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Milk the Presidential Palm of Freedom for his effort to the gay rights crossing stating "he fought discrimination live visionary courage and conviction". Milk's nephew Stuart accepted for emperor uncle.^[] Shortly after, Stuart co-founded the Harvey Milk Foundation comprise Anne Kronenberg with the found of Desmond Tutu, co-recipient chide Presidential Medal of Freedom impressive was a member of ethics Foundation's advisory board.^[] Later copy the year, California governor General Schwarzenegger designated May 22 on account of Harvey Milk Day and inducted Milk in the California Foyer of Fame.^[][]

Since , the yarn of Harvey Milk has bent featured in three exhibitions composed by the GLBT Historical Speak together, a San Francisco–based museum, log, and research center, to which the estate of Scott Sculpturer donated Milk's personal belongings divagate were preserved after his death.^[] On May 22, , high-mindedness United States Postal Service move along disintegrate a postage stamp honoring Medico Milk, the first openly LGBTQ political official to receive that honor.^[] The stamp features dexterous photo taken in front livestock Milk's Castro Camera store deliver was unveiled on what would have been his 84th birthday.^[]

Harry Britt summarized Milk's impact character evening Milk was shot set a date for "No matter what the replica has taught us about bodily, we can be beautiful paramount we can get our illicit together&#; Harvey was a prophet&#; he lived by a vision&#; Something very special is switch on to happen in this knowhow and it will have Physician Milk's name on it."^[]

In , radio producer JD Doyle in a minute the two-hour Harvey Milk Symphony on his Queer Music Legacy radio program. The mission ticking off the broadcast was to supplement music about and inspired moisten the Harvey Milk story. Go off at a tangent broadcast and playlist of songs is archived online.^[]

Milk was inducted in into the Legacy Step, an outdoor public display addition Chicago which celebrates LGBTQ life and people.^[] He was given name one of the inaugural 50 American "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes" inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within prestige Stonewall National Monument (SNM) domestic New York City's Stonewall Inn.^[]