Harvey Milk: He’s Here To Recruit You
By: Anthony Perfidio, Wagner College ’16
“I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you…And you…And you…Gotta give em hope.”
Harvey Milk was a gay rights activist and member of the San Francisco board of supervisors. Born in Long Island, New York on May 22, 1930. Milk knew early in his life that he was gay, but was not public with his homosexuality for most of his life. Milk saw the injustice being perpetrated against homosexuals during his life and strived to change it.
Three Key Moments
-Castro Cameras 1972: Castro Cameras was a business started by Harvey Milk and his boyfriend Scott Smith. The store was established in the Castro District of San Francisco, one of the gay friendly neighborhoods in that time. It was through this business that Milk became involved in San Francisco’s politics. This occurred when a bureaucrat came to Castro Cameras and told Milk that he owed a deposit of $100 against state sales tax. After complaining to state officials the deposit was reduced to $30. After this incident Milk decided to run for City Supervisor. About this decision Milk said: “I finally reached the point where I knew I had to become involved or shut up.”
-Campaigns for Board of Supervisors, 1973-1978: After three campaigns Harvey Milk is finally elected as one of the first openly gay politicians in the United States. Though it took Milk three attempts to make it into office his political losses did help both himself and those who supported him. After his earlier losses Milk organized street fairs and settled disputes between worker unions. His actions did scare big businesses, who saw the rise and success of gay businesses as a threat to their profits. After four years Milk’s record had become so impressive that he was sworn into the Board of Supervisors on January 8,1978
-Assassination, November 27, 1978: Milk’s political career, and life, where cut tragically short when he was assassinated by his former colleague Dan White. White was a member of the Board of Supervisors with Milk. White resigned from his position, but later decided to reverse his decision. When Mayor Moscone refused to reappoint him White left City Hall and returned later that day. White snuck into the building and shot the mayor then Milk. White turned himself in an hour later. Despite being killed at the age of 48, Milk has become a symbol in the gay community, and is still praised to this day.
Leadership
Harvey Milk was a strong supporter of inspiring others. Through is numerous attempts for the Board of Supervisors, Milk gathered support from those around him by being the example and inspiring. Milk proved to politicians and young people that a gay person can be successful if they do not give up hope.
Criticism
The main criticism I can make is the fact that Milk remained secretive of his sexuality until he was forty years old. This criticism is however biased on today’s views of homosexuality, whereas in Milk’s time homosexuality was not as accepted.
References