Life as a gay pioneer is no “Milk” run

By David W. Shelton | October 26, 2008 |

Let’s face it. A name like Harvey Milk practically begs for a pun in the title in any article written about the martyred Board of Supervisor from San Francisco. Like any person in American history, there’s a great deal more to this man than his vitamin-D name. His story will be told to audiences everywhere beginning this week when Milk, a new film from Focus Pictures, will be premiered in San Francisco.

I remember the first time I heard about Milk; it was during a meeting of the gay-straight alliance at Austin Peay State University. The advisor was long-time gay activist and art professor, Dr. Bruce Childs (who’s now enjoying a very well-deserved retirement). Childs mentioned Harvey Milk in passing during a conversation, which inspired me to learn more about this keystone piece of American gay history.

Back in 1977, when Milk first came to light in San Francisco politics, the country’s gay community was beginning to enjoy some much-needed exposure and was well on its way to achieving a few minor protections and gay-rights laws. (Some, like the anti-discrimination law passed in Dade County, Florida, were later repealed through the work of “religious right” leaders). Bryant later received her thanks: a pie in the face.

Bryant also led the push for Florida’s ban on gay adoption (still the only one in the country, thank goodness). It was men and women like Harvey Milk and other leaders who would work to provide a strong, positive face for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender community. To say that tempers were flared during that time (especially with Bryant’s asinine declaration that she would help “get rid” of all the homosexuals in the country) was a bit of an understatement.

Milk, in stark contrast to the hateful rants of those using religion to excuse their vitriol, devoted much of his life to speaking out against the humanitarian crises of the day. After moving with his then-partner Scott Smith to San Francisco’s, they opened a camera shop on Castro Street — which was quickly becoming that city’s gay neighborhood.

Milk’s popularity grew quickly, thanks to his humor and a certain charm, eventually being called “the mayor of Castro Street,” Ironically, he lost his first election, coming in tenth out of thirty-two candidates in the race for a seat on the Board of Supervisors (city council) of San Francisco. He ran (and lost) again in 1975, and finally won the seat in 1977, thus becoming the first openly-gay elected official in the country.

The brief Biography shown on notablebiographies.com details his very brief time on the supervisory board:

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. At his urging, the city announced a drive to hire more gay and lesbian police officers. He also started programs that benefited minorities, workers, and the elderly. Milk then 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.

Harvey Milk once said, “If a bullet should go through my head let that bullet go through every closet door.” That’s exactly what happened on November 27, 1978, when former city supervisor Dan White shot Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Both men were killed.

Milk, a new film by Gus Van Sant, will be released to theatres all across the country. It will be premiered this week in California, sent to limited release on November 26th, and then will go to a wide USA release on December 5th. The movie stars Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, Emile Hirsch as Cleve Jones, and Josh Brolin as Dan White. James Franco plays Scott Smith. It’s my sincere hope that it will come to Clarksville.

Milk himself was the topic of an earlier Academy Award-winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk, released in 1984. The documentary is already known throughout the gay community as the definitive story of Harvey Milk, and the new film stands to reintroduce the entire nation to the story of one man who made a difference in both life and death.

I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Bruce Childs for his work and his tireless passion that he held for his entire tenure at Austin Peay. And I especially thank him for introducing me to the story of a man who’s passion — and life — changed everything.

Thanks, Bruce.

About David W. Shelton

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