Harvey Milk: Impact on LGBT Culture and American Society

Harvey Milk: Impact on LGBT Culture and American Society

Milk's Political Career

• In 1973, Milk decided to run for a spot on the Board of Supervisors, San Francisco's city council after the Watergate scandal
• Milk devleoped an alliance with other minorities in the city
• Lost the election, but gained support to put him on the city's political map
• Ran and lost again for supervisor in 1975
• In 1977 ran for a third time and won, becoming the first openly gay elected official in the city’s history

Impact on American Society

Early Life of Harvey Milk

Harvey's Death

Political Career

• His life profoundly changed a city, state, nation and a global community. His courage, passion and sense of justice brought forward new hope and a new vision of freedom
• The Harvey Milk Foundation is an international organization that works to advance the rights of LGBT people
• Milk's newphew Stuart has successfully worked with the California Statewide Equality Organization to have every May 22nd permanently celebrated as Harvey Milk Recognition Day throughout California
• Today, gay marriage is legal in all 50 states of the United States, and while Harvey wasn't directly involved, he has impacted society into the direction of gay rights

• As city supervisor, Milk was the driving force behind the passage of a gay-rights law that prohibited discrimination or unequal treatment in housing and employment based on sexual orientation.
• He started programs that benefited minorities, workers and the elderly.
• Milk gained national attention for his role in defeating a state senate proposal that would have prohibited gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools in California.

• Born on May 22, 1930 in Woodmere, NY
• Knew he was gay as a teen, but kept it to himself
• Earned a teaching degree in 1951, and joined the Navy until 1955
• After serving in the Navy, Harvey worked as a public school teacher, production assoicate for Broadway muscials, stock analyst and Wall Street investment banker.

• On November 27, 1978 Harvey was shot to death by Dan White in City Hall
• Dan White was a former city supervisor who quit the board to protest the passage of the city’s gay rights law
• White also shot Mayor Moscone to death that same day in City Hall

Dan White's Conviction

Impact on LGBT Culture

White was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, and served five years in prison before being paroled. In October 1985, White committed suicide.

• Harvey Milk’s election in 1977 symbolized the freedom to live life with authenticity to millions of LGBT women and men around the world
• Since his death, Harvey Milk has become a symbol for the gay community of both what has been achieved and what remains to be done
• He has been immortalized in the names of the Harvey Milk Democratic Club, Harvey Milk High School in New York, and San Francisco’s annual Harvey Milk Memorial Parade