In life, Harvey Milk was a pioneer for gay rights. In death, he became one of the movement's martyrs. Both the life and death of California's first openly gay elected official will be remembered this week. The film "Milk," starring Sean Penn, opens on Wednesday in San Francisco and selected US cities, one day before the 30th anniversary of Milk's assassination by a fellow politician. The commemorations come at a poignant time for San Francisco's large gay community, still stunned by voters' recent a
pproval of a ballot measure banning same-sex marriage in California at November 4 elections.
Milk was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which joins the mayor in governing the city, when he was shot to death on November 27, 1978. Dan White, who had resigned as a supervisor but then sought unsuccessfully to get his job back, killed Mayor George Moscone and Milk in City Hall before turning himself in to police a few hours later. Milk and White, a Vietnam War veteran who worked as a police officer and firefighter before running for office, had clashed repeatedly as superviso
rs.
Harvey was a lightning rod for the gay-rights movement in that he encouraged lesbians and gays to work with the current political processes and he demanded acknowledgment and respect," said California state senator Carole Migden, a lesbian and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. "His election was a huge step forward. He showed that gays deserved a place in the political process, and that if they worked hard for it, they would have it," she added. Milk, who was 48 when he was killed,
was not just open about his homosexuality. he basked in it, referring to himself as "number one queen.
While temporarily taking Moscone's place as acting mayor, he joked at a ribbon-cutting ceremony that: "I am probably the only mayor who cuts the ribbon and then puts it in his hair." The former Navy lieutenant took his spot on the Board of Supervisors in 1977 as parts of the US were being swept by an anti-gay backlash. In Florida, the singer Anita Bryant successfully led a campaign to repeal a law that had banned discrimination against gays.
Milk helped lead opposition to a California proposal that would have banned gay teachers, or any teacher that supported gay rights, from public schools. Selected as one of Time magazine's 100 most important people of the 20th century, Milk's spirit lives on in the Castro-the neighborhood that is at the center of San Francisco's vibrant gay community.
A Levis jeans store window on Castro Street proclaims: "Thanks Harvey!" while a giant rainbow flag that flutters above Harvey Milk Plaza is the epicenter of the neighborhood. The San Francisco opening of "Milk" will take place at the Castro Theatre, a few steps from the giant flag. The film, distributed by the same studio that produced "Brokeback Mountain," already has generated Oscars buzz for Penn. Josh Brolin, who portrayed George W. Bush in the recent film "W," is cast as White.
California state assemblyman Tom Ammiano was a teacher when he joined Milk in the campaign against the California proposition that would have banned gay educators, and plays himself in the film. Ammiano says Milk encouraged stays to stand up for their rights. "I think his legacy is courage and hope. I think that's what he demonstrated, being openly gay and non-apologetic for it," Ammiano said. "He also exhibited a lot of courage in wading into the mainstream and saying to a lot of people it doesn't alway
s have to be this way." "There is some joy in knowing that, through the movie, people will be reminded of who Harvey was and what he stood for."-AFP
____________________________________________________________________
Adopted from Kuwait Times
pproval of a ballot measure banning same-sex marriage in California at November 4 elections.
Milk was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which joins the mayor in governing the city, when he was shot to death on November 27, 1978. Dan White, who had resigned as a supervisor but then sought unsuccessfully to get his job back, killed Mayor George Moscone and Milk in City Hall before turning himself in to police a few hours later. Milk and White, a Vietnam War veteran who worked as a police officer and firefighter before running for office, had clashed repeatedly as superviso
rs.
Harvey was a lightning rod for the gay-rights movement in that he encouraged lesbians and gays to work with the current political processes and he demanded acknowledgment and respect," said California state senator Carole Migden, a lesbian and former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. "His election was a huge step forward. He showed that gays deserved a place in the political process, and that if they worked hard for it, they would have it," she added. Milk, who was 48 when he was killed,
was not just open about his homosexuality. he basked in it, referring to himself as "number one queen.
While temporarily taking Moscone's place as acting mayor, he joked at a ribbon-cutting ceremony that: "I am probably the only mayor who cuts the ribbon and then puts it in his hair." The former Navy lieutenant took his spot on the Board of Supervisors in 1977 as parts of the US were being swept by an anti-gay backlash. In Florida, the singer Anita Bryant successfully led a campaign to repeal a law that had banned discrimination against gays.
Milk helped lead opposition to a California proposal that would have banned gay teachers, or any teacher that supported gay rights, from public schools. Selected as one of Time magazine's 100 most important people of the 20th century, Milk's spirit lives on in the Castro-the neighborhood that is at the center of San Francisco's vibrant gay community.
A Levis jeans store window on Castro Street proclaims: "Thanks Harvey!" while a giant rainbow flag that flutters above Harvey Milk Plaza is the epicenter of the neighborhood. The San Francisco opening of "Milk" will take place at the Castro Theatre, a few steps from the giant flag. The film, distributed by the same studio that produced "Brokeback Mountain," already has generated Oscars buzz for Penn. Josh Brolin, who portrayed George W. Bush in the recent film "W," is cast as White.
California state assemblyman Tom Ammiano was a teacher when he joined Milk in the campaign against the California proposition that would have banned gay educators, and plays himself in the film. Ammiano says Milk encouraged stays to stand up for their rights. "I think his legacy is courage and hope. I think that's what he demonstrated, being openly gay and non-apologetic for it," Ammiano said. "He also exhibited a lot of courage in wading into the mainstream and saying to a lot of people it doesn't alway
s have to be this way." "There is some joy in knowing that, through the movie, people will be reminded of who Harvey was and what he stood for."-AFP
____________________________________________________________________
Adopted from Kuwait Times
No comments:
Post a Comment