As May rolls by at its staggering pace, our thoughts often turn to the coming summer. Students are stressing over finals, teachers are holding their breath as they prep report cards, and a sense of freedom and excitement looms overhead with the brightening sky.
But before our thoughts turn completely toward June, there is a special day in May that warrants our attention. Because tomorrow, the twenty-second day of the month, marks the ninety-first birthday of a man who made headway in American politics through his advocacy for marginalized groups. He believed strongly in equality and diversity, and supported state as well as national policies that protected the rights of women, racial and ethnic minorities, and members of the LGBTQ community.
Tomorrow is Harvey Milk Day.
During the mid to late seventies, Harvey Milk became the first openly gay politician in California (nationaltoday). After several failed attempts to run for office, he was finally elected as a City-County Supervisor in San Francisco, where he sponsored many anti-discrimination bills, established day care centers, converted old facilities into low-cost housing units, and issued many other policies that were in the interest of groups whose needs had been long-ignored (milkfoundation). Throughout his career, he made it clear that his fight was for the people. However, this fight was cut unfortunately short; barely a year after taking office, Harvey Milk was murdered by a conservative politician who did not agree with his views.
We celebrate Harvey Milk Day because, while we remember him mainly for his contribution to LGBTQ communities, he was an important advocate for the American people in general. His policies were made to protect those who were having trouble protecting themselves—for those who did not have the money or power to have their voices heard. In a country where the battle for basic civil rights and equality is still being waged to this day, we need to celebrate those few and far-between politicians who put the needs of the citizens of the United States ahead of their own. Harvey Milk willingly risked his life to make a difference for LGBTQ and other marginalized communities, at one point stating that, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door” (nationaltoday). And while his words became an unfortunate reality in one sense, they became a beacon of hope in another.
Today, more members of the LGBTQ community than ever are able to stand up and speak their truths freely. Harvey Milk’s presence within politics opened a door for more voices to be heard within our government. We celebrate Harvey Milk Day in remembrance of this fact. And we celebrate Harvey Milk Day as a reminder to continue the fight even in the face of adversity.
As Harvey Milk was known to say: “Hope is never silent” (nationaltoday).
— C.Q.
To find out more about Harvey Milk, and to learn more about what you can do to observe the holiday tomorrow, check out these websites:
