Revolution.

In honor of LGBT History Month, the month of October, I want to share with you my hero, Harvey Milk.

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. He was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he was in charge of a few counties and Castro Street where he owned a shop. Castro Street is infamous for being the gay capital of San Francisco.

What I love about Milk is how outspoken he was. He never ever gave up and always held his head up high. He served for about 11 months leading an iniative for equal rights and equal education. And, while his accomplishments as the “Mayor of Castro Street” may seem a bit dull, what he stands for is so much more. His speeches were so passionate and empowering. His attitude was always avante-garde. 

But all good things must come to an end. In this case, an unjust one. Dan White assassinated Harvey Milk and Mayor of Sanfrancisco George Moscone on November 27, 1978. Dan was bitter and angry for having a homosexual holding a political office and in his angst murdered Milk and Moscone. Pleading to what is now called the “twinkie defense”, he got away with merely a slap on the wrist compared to what he had done. The twinkie defense was White saying that his judgment was impaired because he ate too much sugar. This sounds completely ridiculous I know, but it get’s worse. White had a loaded gun with extra rounds and came through a side window, but then said he wasn’t planning on killing them!

But what we must focus on is the good. The hope that one can do anything in this country. That, no matter who you are, you can stand for something. You can make a change.

Harvey Milk said something in a tape he made in case he did get murdered that says, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door”. I merely wish for the same.