Friday November 27 marks 42 years since the assassination of American politician and LGBTQ+ activist, Harvey Milk, in 1978. After he ventured into politics in 1973, Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected into a public US office and was a pioneer of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. During his political career, he encouraged support for pro-LGBTQ+ legilslation which led to the passing of a bill which prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. He was fatally shot by his former city supervisor opponent, Dan White, less than a year after being voted onto the San Francisco city board.
Since his death, his lasting legacy has been celebrated in various arts, and a postage stamp was made to commemorate him and his work for the LGBTQ+ community. He is widely considered to be one of the most pivotal figures in the early LGBTQ+ rights movement. The Human Rights Campaign posted a tribute to Milk on Twitter, writing: “Harvey Milk was a trailblazer for many and one of the first openly LGBTQ+ elected officials nationwide. On the 42nd anniversary of his assassination, we lift up his legacy and are reminded of the work yet to be done to achieve equality for all.”
National Student Pride, an organisation bringing LGBTQ+ events to UK students, also tweeted: “Today we remember Harvey Milk Although assassinated in 1978, 8 years after becoming the first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk has become an icon & martyr within the LGBTQ+ community.” After Milk’s assassination, a tape was released that he instructed to be shared in the event of his death, on which he said: “I would like to see every gay doctor come out, every gay lawyer, every gay architect come out, stand up and let that world know. That would do more to end prejudice overnight than anybody would imagine. I urge them to do that, urge them to come out. Only that way will we start to achieve our rights…If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country.”
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