Got Milk?

Yesterday 7 friends and I  went to see the movie “Milk”.   Although I was only 10 years old  when Harvey Milk, along George Moscone, was  assassinated in San Francisco City hall, his impact to the gay community has allowed me to be open about who I am today.

This movie brought to life  this quiet man from New York who had only been in San Francisco a short time, that began to demand change.  Opening up a small camera store in the Castro district he started by winning one block at a time, then a district, then a city.  When he began to make a run for public  office, he met defeat head on, encouraged that his poll results were greater than his previous defeat.  He pressed on. 

There were several scenes in the movie that showed the marches he led and the religious propaganda of Proposition 6 he confronted.  If Prop 6 had passed gay and lesbian teachers and those who supported them would have lost their jobs.  It was nothing more than a witch hunt focusing on the gay and lesbian community.  As I watched these scenes it was reminiscent of the current issue of Prop 8.  The religious propaganda pronouncing that our rights would cause a negative impact on children, just like they venemously proclaimed 30 years ago.

Although it seems at times that the struggle for gay rights is endless, people like Harvey Milk, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon,  Aaron Fricke,  Jean O’Leary, and Frank Kameny have pushed open doors that others dare not try to open.  As we face the repercussions of the passing of Prop 8,  we know our fight is not over.  But like Harvey Milk, I am encouraged that at each election the number of our supporters increase.  Hopefully in my lifetime we will see equality for gays throughout our nation.

When I see those television advertisements and t-shirts that read “Got Milk?”  I think of something other than a cold dairy beverage.  I think, ’Do I have the spirit of Harvey Milk?”  Do I have the drive, the energy, the dream to go out and make a difference? 

I encourage everyone, gay person to see this movie.  Most gay people under 30 have no idea who Harvey Milk is.  It is important to see how far we have come and look forward to the work yet to be done.