At the precipice of this story lies a street in San Diego, one that has received the title “Harvey Milk Street.” But what is the significance of this naming? Who is Harvey Milk? As this blog comes to a close for me, with multiple fun and interesting posts, the final one is a tribute to the man who was the spearhead of the gay rights movement, a man with courage and strength, a man who will never be forgotten, immortalized on a street in San Diego.
Born in Long Island to Jewish parents, Harvey was a teased child. Born with awkward ears and large feet, Harvey became the class clown with a problem talking to girls. He knew he was a homosexual from a young age, but kept it to himself. An officer in the U.S. Navy, Harvey served as a submarine soldier during the Korean War. He lived in New York for a while, but decided to relocate to San Francisco, California in the 1960′s. It would be here that Milk’s politics and attitude toward his own life and the lives of others would change dramatically.
Living in a hippie part of town changed Milk. He began seeing Scott Smith, and they would
continue the same romantic partnership until Milk’s death. He quickly longed to be involved in politics, first as an activist with Smith, and then by running for public office. He cut his hair, stopped smoking pot, and got serious. But he lost for mayor, and for city council, and he lost again. Harvey never gave up.
He would face serious opposition. In 1977, Anita Bryant, a singer, and a group of fundamentalist conservatives protested a new ordinance that disallowed discrimination based on sexual orientation. This fueled the San Francisco gay community, and Harvey ran again for city council supervisor. This time, he won. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to serve public office in American history in 1978.
Another supervisor, named Dan White, had recently lost his job. In a fit of rage, he stormed through the City Hall building on November 27, 1978. He killed his old boss, and in passing, shot and killed Harvey Milk. Milk was 48.
Harvey Milk became a symbol after his death. He once said, ”If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” And in many ways, it has. Harvey Milk has served as an inspiration to politicians, gays, heterosexual people, and many more. He is an emblem of light for those in struggle; his perseverance is striking and wonderful. It lives beyond his death.
The Harvey Milk Foundation was created to continue the civil rights work that Harvey began. Harvey Milk day was coined for May 22, Milk’s birthday. In 2008, Milk celebrated the life of Harvey, and earned actor, Sean Penn an Oscar for his portrayal
of the late activist and politician. And now, a street will show the face of the man who moved a generation and a city. Remember the man, remember Harvey Milk, and all he has done for an entire culture.
