Harvey Milk is known all over the world for his actions. He will always be remembered for changing the way homosexuality is viewed by the rest of the world. What he achieved for the LGBT community is fundamental for today’s standards, and even the smaller things he brought to attention are important and not to be overlooked. In this blog, I am going to look at the changes Harvey Milk has made to the world, and at how he is remembered today. I will start off by admitting that I didn’t know a lot about Harvey Milk before this project. I knew his name, and I knew he was an gay politician, but that’s all I knew. After hearing about this project, I went looking for information about him, and what I found was very intriguing to me. The way he appeared to me, is as a noble, understanding yet rebelling man, who strived to achieve that what so many people had desired for a long time. He seemed like a symbol of hope and freedom and that is exactly what he is known for today.
What people seem to remember the most about him (and rightfully so), is how he made people aware of homosexuality. He gave his all to make people accept and acknowledge it, and he did a very good job at it. He would give inspirational speeches that would encourage gays and lesbians, but also other minorities. I especially like how he depicted that hope is what keeps us going. In one of his last speeches, he said that electing more gay people would give “a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward.”. This is very true, because once a minority receives a high status, it shines a bit of hope on the rest of the minorities, showing them that, not only do they count too in this world, they are also capable of achieving something special. This also applies to what Barack Obama means to the black community.
On a tape that Harvey recorded (knowing in advance how much danger he was in) in case he would be assassinated, he encouraged gays from all over the world to come out. If in a sudden turn of events, important people from all over the world, doctors, lawyers, bankers, you name it, would suddenly come out, maybe that would help. Maybe that would mean something. I can not possibly explain how much I agree with this. If you live your life closeted, afraid to come out because you are a minority, because there are no other people like you, not only do you prevent yourself from being who you want to be, you discourage other gays to come out, because they feel like they are the only one too! If you just come out and set an example to other closeted gays around you, maybe it will encourage them to come out too, that way there WILL be people ‘like you’. The more people come out, the more people will be encouraged to come out too. Especially when ‘important’ people turn out to be gay, it will show the world that homosexuality is much more normal than originally seemed.
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| Harvey Milk plaza |
Harvey Milk has been celebrated in different ways after his death. In San Fransisco you can find the Harvey Milk plaza, in the Castro neighbourhood where Harvey lived.
There are also several media based around Harvey. There is a book about him (The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts), an award winning documentary (The Times of Harvey Milk) and an award winning movie (simply titled ‘Milk’).
Two magazines included Harvey as one of the heroes of the 20th century (‘Time 100 Heroes and Icons of the 20th Century’, and The Advocate’s ’40 Heroes of the 20th Century Issue’).
Despite not being alive to receive it, Harvey was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by Barack Obama. Harvey's nephew Stuart Milk (who is also a LGBT human rights activist) received the medal for his uncle.
Harvey's existence is also celebrated once a year, on May 22 (last Tuesday) which is Harvey Milk day. The day was established by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who I am a big fan of).
An interesting thing to note, is that on Harvey Milk day this year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors agreed to urge the Secretary of the Navy to name one of their ships the U.S.S. Harvey Milk. Scott Wiener, who sponsored the resolution said that because Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repelled, they now have to support the LGBT soldiers, and he wants to do so by naming a vessel after "a Navy officer who went on to become one of the most important civil rights leaders in history."
Supervisor Christina Olague however, did not want this to happen. Her argument was that it would be morally wrong to name a machine of war after someone who, in the last days of their life, opposed war. I agree with her, even though it is to honor Harvey, it is not fair to link Harvey to the military if he was really against it, that is like naming a windmill after Don Quixote.
In the end 9 people were in favor opposed to 2 people against the proposition, which means they are going through with it. Even though I agree with Christina, I AM happy to see that these people want to pay tribute to Harvey. I mean, having a Navy ship named after you is a pretty big honor right?
There are also several media based around Harvey. There is a book about him (The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts), an award winning documentary (The Times of Harvey Milk) and an award winning movie (simply titled ‘Milk’).
Two magazines included Harvey as one of the heroes of the 20th century (‘Time 100 Heroes and Icons of the 20th Century’, and The Advocate’s ’40 Heroes of the 20th Century Issue’).
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| Stuart Milk, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Harvey's existence is also celebrated once a year, on May 22 (last Tuesday) which is Harvey Milk day. The day was established by Arnold Schwarzenegger (who I am a big fan of).
An interesting thing to note, is that on Harvey Milk day this year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors agreed to urge the Secretary of the Navy to name one of their ships the U.S.S. Harvey Milk. Scott Wiener, who sponsored the resolution said that because Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repelled, they now have to support the LGBT soldiers, and he wants to do so by naming a vessel after "a Navy officer who went on to become one of the most important civil rights leaders in history."
Supervisor Christina Olague however, did not want this to happen. Her argument was that it would be morally wrong to name a machine of war after someone who, in the last days of their life, opposed war. I agree with her, even though it is to honor Harvey, it is not fair to link Harvey to the military if he was really against it, that is like naming a windmill after Don Quixote.
In the end 9 people were in favor opposed to 2 people against the proposition, which means they are going through with it. Even though I agree with Christina, I AM happy to see that these people want to pay tribute to Harvey. I mean, having a Navy ship named after you is a pretty big honor right?
In the end, there is enough to remember Harvey Milk by. He will always stay in our hearts, and he will always be a hero.
One question haunts me right now, a question that saddens me in a way. Would Harvey Milk have been remembered and celebrated the way he was, if he hadn’t been murdered? The news that he was killed brought an outrage to the world, it boosted his popularity to a new level. More people learned about Harvey, and what he stood for. Although the event itself was horrible and sad, you have to ask yourself, where would we be if Harvey Milk was still alive?
On the other hand, if Harvey HAD survived, he would have been alive to do even more great things. I am convinced Harvey would have made an even better world for us to live in, I really have no doubt in that.
So now, at the end of Harvey Milk week, let’s celebrate his existence once more, and let’s hope that one day, one day very soon, we will all be able to be who we want to be, regardless of our sexuality. I wonder how long it will take before America elects it’s first gay president...
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