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The Birth of Milk
Harvey Milk was born at the tender age of 0 in Woodmere, New York. His parents were Minerva and William Milk. William was a Lithuanian immigrant and his mother was descended from Lithuanian ancestry. His mother was in the U.S. Navy during World War 1, serving as a yeomanette, along with his father who also served. His family was somewhat small but they founded the first Jewish Synagogue in their community in Woodmere. He also had an older brother named Robert. -
School is Cool
Milk graduated from Bay Shore High School in Bay Shore, New York, in 1947 and attended New York State College for Teachers in Albany from 1947 to 1951, He majored in math. (Of all things.) -
Navy Boy
Milk joined the Navy after graduating college in 1951 as a diving officer with his partner, Cereal. He was later discharged in 1955 as the title of lieutenant junior grade. He began teaching at George W. Hewlett High School on Long Island. Harvey began several different jobs at various insurance/banking firms. In 1964, he became involved with a man named Jack McKinley, and worked with him on Barry Goldwater's 1964 Presidential Campaign. (Which is ironic because Goldwater was ultra-conservative.) -
This is Ironic
Milk considered himself a Republican years before moving to California. He began working on Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign. The irony is that Goldwater was a fierce conservative but wasn't opposed to homosexuality. If APUSH has taught us anything, it's that political parties have shifted their ideals over the years, In 1992, he stated, "You don't have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight." when referring to the ban on homosexuals serving in the army. -
Defiance
Harvey was aware that we was gay from the time he was a young boy, but he didn't fully embrace it until his boyfriend, McKinley, began work in theatre and a production of "Hair". However, Milk and McKinley became involved in protests against the American invasion of Cambodia and was fired from his job for burning his credit card in front of a group of people. This was his first act of defiance (besides being a gay man in the 70's) against the United States government. -
Castro Camera
At a time of bitter hostility and confrontations between the LGBT community and the police, Castro Street became the LGBT literal community of San Diego, California. Teenagers who came out and were forced out of their homes went to live in this neighborhood with people in similar situations. Milk and his boyfriend at the time, Scott Smith, moved to Castro Street to open a camera shop. Harvey was unaware that this would become a safe space for the LGBT community in the area. -
First Political Run
Milk learned about the Watergate scandal and this inspired him to run for a local office in the community, the Board of Supervisors. (This was San Francisco's city council.) Milk wanted to inspire change in the community through politics. He used his influence in the local gay community to boost his campaign, however he lost. His participation in the campaign helped jumpstart his career as a politician. Milk called for more than gay rights, but also care for seniors, tax cuts, women's rights,etc -
First Openly Gay City Comissioner
In 1975, Harvey ran again for a seat in the the Board of Supervisors. This time he cut his hair and stopped smoking as much pot. (Basically, he went more professional.) He lost again but because of his close friendship with Mayor George Moscone, he was put on the Board of Permit Appeals in 1976, making him the first openly gay city commissioner in the U.S. However, he felt a calling towards the California State Assembly and decided to run. He was fired from his position on the Board. -
The San Francisco Gay Democratic Club
After 5 weeks of being on the Board of Permit Appeals, Milk launched his campaign for the California State Assembly. He used the slogan, "Harvey Milk vs. The Machine", the machine being the Democratic party. He fought for the same issues as his previous elections and even started his own political machine, the San Francisco Gay Democratic Club, which consisted mostly of LGBT individuals from the area. (Mostly Castro Street) He ran against Art Agnos and lost by 4,000 votes, his closest race yet. -
Boycott of Coors Beer
Coors Beer was known for being anti-woman, immigrant, LGBT, African American, Latino, unionization etc. from the 1940's-1990's. When a strike in Colorado occurred at Coors Beer, their plan of action was to fire anyone suspected of being a part of the LGBT community. Milk and Smith (his boyfriend) led a protest against Coors. They urged bars around the country to stop selling Coors and held public demonstrations pouring the beer down the gutter in large amounts. It worked. Coors changed policies. -
Sweet, Sweet Victory
In 1977, Milk decided to try one last time for a position on the Board of Supervisors in San Fransisco. With his increased national attention and influence in California, he won. He was the first openly gay politician to be sworn into a political office in the U.S. He pushed to improve housing for lower-income families in the area, promote anti-discrimination ordinances (not just against the LGBT community), improve education, attracting industry into the area, etc. -
Proposition 6
After he was sworn into office, a piece of legislation known as the Briggs Initiative, or Proposition 6, was proposed to the state of California. It would have barred gay people from teaching in schools across the state. Milk urged gay people across the country to come out in response to the bill to show that gay people were no different from the rest of Americans. In early November, Proposition 6 was struck down by over a million votes, along with the help of President Jimmy Carter. -
Coincidence
Harvey Milk recorded on tape a message to be played in the event of an assassination. He wasn't aware that 9 days later, he was going to be shot and killed. On the tape, he made a statement that went down as one of the most inspirational messages made to the gay community.
“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” -
The Assassination of Harvey Milk
Dan White, a former member of the Board of Supervisors, became upset that the city of San Fransisco allowed a gay man to be on the board of supervisors. (He was also upset with his salary.) On Nov. 27, 1978, he marched to city hall and entered in through the basement. He carried in a gun and assassinated Mayor Moscone and Milk. He justified the shooting as a result of eating too much junk food, which became known as the "Twinkie Defense". A silent march was held that night in honor of Milk. -
The Message Left Behind
Milk was the first openly gay politician in the U.S. to win a seat in the government. Before his time in office, he was an unabashed activist who encouraged all LGBT people to come out and show the country that they were not second class citizens. Because of him, politicians such as Tammy Baldwin are able to serve in the U.S. federal government. (She is an openly gay senator from Wisconsin.) Harvey Milk showed inspired a generation to live as who they are, unafraid, and proud. Thank you, Harvey.
