Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk was an openly gay man in politics when such a thing was unheard of, and his confidence and refusal to cave to threats and oppression paved the way for all out LGBT politicians today. He ran for a position on San Francisco's Board of Supervisors three times before being elected; these campaigns put him in the spotlight as an “avowed homosexual” with broad popular appeal before he even stepped into office. Finally successful, he was key in passing a citywide ordinance against discrimination for gays and lesbians. Milk was unapologetic about his sexual orientation and encouraged ordinary citizens to feel the same, believing that the best way to erase public fears about homosexuality was for gay and lesbian people to come out en masse. In response to numerous death threats, he simply stated in his will, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”

In addition to LGBT rights, Milk worked to improve public services in San Francisco such as childcare and transportation, and helped civilians create better police oversight. He was dedicated to his constituency and spend long hours in bus stops and movie theater lines, shaking hands, greeting volunteers, and helping citizens register to vote. When the election system changed so that districts within the city could elect their own supervisors, other openly gay politicians began to compete with him for the Castro seat, but Milk still retained the most voter support. He was known for charismatic public appearances and a taste for media attention, and believed that part of his role was to make citizens more comfortable with homosexuality, rather than to be a mainstream politician who “happens to be gay”.

On November 27, 1978, Dan White, a former member of the Board of Supervisors who had clashed politically with Milk, entered City Hall with a concealed gun and shot both him and Mayor George Moscone. The Mayor had supported Milk throughout his career and had turned White down when he asked to rescind his notice of retirement from the board. The terrible crime shook the city and nation, with newspapers and officials calling it “Black Monday” and “an insane tragedy”. White was sentenced to only five years in jail. Despite his tragic death, Harvey Milk's lasting impact on American politics is clear: he taught that change comes when individuals are fearlessly honest about themselves in the face of stigma and discrimination, and never allow the status quo to limit their ambitions.