Harvey Milk Day
May 22nd is Harvey Milk Day—This day honors the late activist, his life, and his dedication to fighting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people. Milk is remembered as one of the first openly gay men elected to public office in the US, when he served as a member of the San Fransisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970’s. His successful grassroots political campaign was supported by voters from many communities, including immigrants, the elderly, communities of color, unions, and LGBQ+ folks. As a politician as well as an activist, he organized to protect gay and lesbian business owners in San Fransisco’s Castro district, to block a bill that would have banned gay and lesbian people from working in California Schools, and more. His life and historic political career were tragically cut short in 1978, when he was assassinated along with San Fransisco Mayor George Moscone. Since his death, Harvey Milk is remembered as an iconic figure of the LGBTQ+ movement.
In Portland, we don't need to travel far to honor Milk’s legacy—Downtown Portland is home Harvey Milk Street, which spans a 13-block stretch of the city. Previously SW Stark, this street was renamed in 2017 thanks to a campaign which sought to honor LGBTQ+ historical figures. Proponents noted that the street’s original namesake, Benjamin Stark, was unapologetically racist and a supporter of slavery.
"What set Harvey apart… was that he was a visionary. He imagined a righteous world inside his head and then he set about to create it for real, for all of us," said Anne Kronenberg, who managed Milk’s final campaign. In a political landscape in which legal attacks against the LGBTQ+ community have dramatically escalated, especially against transgender folks, remembering those who have come before us in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is vital. Harvey Milk remains an inspiration to all those who are working towards a future in which all queer people are safe, free to speak out, and an integral part of their local community.
To learn more about Harvey Milk and his impact, please visit https://milkfoundation.org
