Harvey Milk

The first openly gay politician was assassinated eleven months after taking office of the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. Who was it? Harvey Milk, the hero who stood up for gay rights. "Milk portrayed himself as someone who just happened to be gay; when talking of sexuality, he argued for acceptance of homosexuals as human beings" ("St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture"). Harvey is such a courageous inspiration. Being gay definitely gave an edge to his political life, but even without being homosexual, he still wouldn't have been afraid to speak his opinion.

Harvey Milk was born on May 22nd in 1930, in Long Island, New York. Milk grew up in Woodmere in a middle-classed Jewish family. He went to college at Albany State College, majoring in math. Shortly after that, Harvey decided to join the Navy. Milk was discovered as being homosexual and was discharged from the Navy. Through the fifties and sixties he lived in New York. While he was in his forties, in 1972, he decided to move to San Francisco, otherwise known as the "gay capital". It was estimated in that time that about twenty percent of San Francisco was homosexual. Harvey wasn't afraid to be gay, showing his courage.

Inspiring is one of the many words to describe Harvey Milk. While in San Francisco, Harvey opened a camera store. San Francisco changed Harvey Milk's outlook a lot. After opening the camera shop, his fame grew and grew within that neighborhood. He was the center of attention in the Castro District and soon proceeded to help the city's gay establishments. After becoming angered by the Senate Watergate hearings, Milk campaigned for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1973. Milk stood in front of the voters and stated "I stand for all those who feel that the government no longer understands the individual and no longer respects individual rights." He tried to confront the city's cautious gay views. He argued for gays to be "accepted as human beings" ("St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture"). He was a great symbol of strength in the gay and lesbian community, while still being a politician. He made many contributions to the gay rights movement in the 1970s, but soon his life was ended by an assassin.

Milk had double the courage as the average man. He went into this campaign knowing he was going to be hated for being gay. "Milk's astonishing--if entirely brief--political career was founded on a giant negotiation." (Hays "The Gay And Lesbian Review Worldwide") Milk was very passionate about his work. But after he got the job in office, he had to accept reality. Harvey wasn't used to politics, but ran for office to share his opinion. Milk is a role model to anyone who wants to show their opinion. He wanted to sway people's opinions on homosexuality. "This activist-politician's high-wire act was nicely summarized in his own words: 'You can throw bricks at City Hall or you can take it over.'" (Hays "The Gay And Lesbian Review Worldwide"). And with that, Harvey decided to take it over. He first ran in 1975, but didn't actually get onto the Board of Supervisors until 1977. Milk was truly determined to help out.

"Milk portrayed himself as someone who just happened to be gay; when talking of sexuality, he argued for acceptance of homosexuals as human beings" ("St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture") Selfless is a perfect word to describe Harvey Milk. He spoke his opinions, not to help himself, but to help others like him. Harvey constantly was pelted with insults and threats but he stood against them. Harvey was infuriated by the Watergate scandal in 1973, which is why he ran for office. Harvey wanted to make change. He pursued running for office until he finally made it in 1977, showing a true hero. Harvey's life was cut short in 1978 by Dan White, a man who formerly was a city supervisor. On November 27, 1978, Dan White came into City Hall and shot Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone to death. Harvey Milk is a true inspiration.

Harvey Milk isn't just an inspiration because he was gay or just because he was a politician. He stood up for what he thought was right and tried to help others. Milk lived a short, but inspiring life. He's my hero because he taught me to stand up for what I believe in even if it puts my life at risk. Harvey is truly the most selfless, most courageous inspirational man I have ever heard of.

Works Cited Ernst, Cindi, ed. The Dan White (Harvey Milk Murder) Trial (1979). Cindi Ernst, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. "Gay and Lesbian Biography." Harvey Milk (1997): 22. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. Hays, Matthew. "The World According to Harvey." Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide (2012): 39. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. Pendergast, Sara, and Tom Pendergast. "St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture." St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Detroit, St. Louis: n.p., 2000. 22. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. Schneider, Richard Jr. "The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide." The new issue: "heroes and martyrs": n. pag. Gale Biography in Context. Web. 7 Mar. 2013.