Miscellaneous
Harvey Milk is known for being the first openly gay public official in California and one of the first in the United States. A hero of the gay rights movement, many credit Milk with normalizing homosexuality in public life and giving many young, closeted gay Americans a beacon of hope to look for. Milk was born in 1930 in Woodmere, New York to a middle class, Jewish family. After his time in the Navy serving in the Korean War, Milk worked in finance. After living in New York for several years, he decided to move to San Francisco in 1972, where he opened Castro Camera on Castro Street. As Milk gained popularity within the community, he became a gay rights activist in the heart of an emerging gay rights movement. There, he became known as the “Mayor of Castro Street.” After several attempts in previous elections, Milk won a seat on the San Francisco City-Community Board in 1977. While in office, Milk advocated for civil rights for marginalized communities. Additionally, he worked to established daycare centers for working mothers and supported several initiates for affordable housing and improving the safety of the city. Milk’s term was tragically cut short when he was assassinated by fellow Board member, Dan White. White had resigned from office because he did not agree with the progressive changes being made by the city. Following court proceedings, White was charged with manslaughter rather than murder, which was attributed to the defense’s claims that White’s rage was caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and “junk food.” Milk’s assassination in combination with White’s lowered sentence caused demonstrations organized by gay rights activists to turn violent. Today, Milk is remembered by many and his life is depicted in several books and movies. Recently, Milk’s service in the Navy was recognized by the commission of the US Navy ship, the USNS Harvey Milk.