Harvey Milk Day

Many public schools commemorates Harvey Milk Day in California, USA, on May 22nd every year to celebrate the achievements of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist who was assassinated in 1978.

The struggle that the LGBTQ community faces has been going on for generations in this country and thousands of years around the world. Harvey Milk is one of the heroes of that struggle. He was the first official elected to be gay in California openly.

While being assassinated, he completed important steps for the community during his time in office. Harvey Milk Day commemorate to honor Harvey Milk along with his sacrifices that made people could live their lives in peace.

History of Harvey Milk Day

Harvey Milk is a professional politician, born in May 1930 in New York City. When he first found out he was gay as a teenager, he knew he had to keep quiet. His parents, traditional Lithuanian Jews, were devastated by this revelation.

He did an excellent job in defending it, serving in the army until 1955. He moved back to New York after his discharge and would eventually move to San Francisco in 1972.

There, he actively began working to help advance the rights of the LGBTQ community in San Francisco, although his first steps were not easily received.

The local gay political community is easy to understand and Harvey hasn't been around for long. His natural ability to bring people together has helped cut this ice away over time. It was not until 1978 that he was able to run for office with the support of the local community.

Winning the election, he went on to push for a bill that would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, public accommodation and employment.

It all worked out in the end, but then there was the assassination of him and George Moscone by another city supervisor, Dan White. Harvey Milk Day celebrates all he has done for his community and ensures that his sacrifice is never forgotten.

Why Harvey Milk Day is important

• Equality is still an ideal we are fighting for

Harvey Milk runs on the platform of equal rights for all, regardless of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion or race. Although we have made some significant gains, the gap remains. Women currently earn only 70-93% of what their male counterparts make, depending on the field. The use of transgender bathrooms is being debated by states, and there is fierce controversy over the immigration ban. The fight for equality that Harvey Milk's life sacrificed is still as relevant today as it was in 1978.

• Harvey Milk has dedicated his life to equality

Harvey Milk knew he was risking his life from the moment he started pushing for equality. As a homosexual politician, he received several death threats. However, this did not prevent him from promoting the notion of equal rights. As city supervisor, he fought against a statewide initiative that discriminated against homosexuals teaching in public schools. Harvey Milk won that battle and founded the Castro Village Association, which became a model for other LGBT communities in the United States. Milk wanted this message out: "If a bullet goes into my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door." He dedicated his life to the American ideal of equality.

• Milk believes that the government represents individuals

With today's divisions in the country, it's important to return to the fundamental civil liberties lesson that Harvey Milk believed in. He believes that every person is important, valuable and needs to be represented. He believes that elected officials need to advocate for those who cannot have their voices heard or who have no voice to speak for themselves. He promotes diversity in government, believing that people need to see themselves represented in all branches of government. He truly believes in a government by the people, for the people and for the people.

How to celebrate Harvey Milk Day

• Rainbow flags

The rainbow flag, also known as the gay rights flag, promotes the social and political activism of the LGBT community. It has also been called the flag of peace and the flag of freedom. Whatever nickname you prefer, it's the true representation of Harvey Milk who believes in equal rights for all, peace and freedom.

• Read Milk's "Hope" speech

The "Hope" speech was the one Harvey Milk gave when he announced his candidacy and which he later gave an expanded version at the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade in 1978. Although the speech opened with a joke, its content was serious and he believed it. , "You have to give people hope". He also knows he is fighting an uphill battle for equality and rights for homosexuals. He stated, "The first gays we elect must be strong." Ultimately, he believes, "Hope is never silent".

• Donate to support Harvey Milk Foundation

According to one of the top PR Firms in San Francisco, the Harvey Milk foundation was established after Milk's death by his grandson, Stuart Milk and Anne Kronenberg, Harvey Milk's campaign manager, who wanted to see the message. Milk's message of equality comes true. The nonprofit's goal is to celebrate the diversity of humanity and to ensure that no group is excluded from the rights society affords on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, ability or ethnicity. You can visit milkfoundation.org to learn how to support this organization.