queerasfact: Pride 2022 04/30: Harvey MilkWhen he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervis
queerasfact: Pride 2022 04/30: Harvey MilkWhen he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in January 1978, Harvey Milk became one of the USA’s first openly gay politicians. He ran his political campaign from his camera store on Castro Street, which also served as an informal community centre for queer people in the area. Harvey used his position as supervisor to fight for queer rights, in particular against the firing of teachers who were gay or who supported gay people. In November 1978, Harvey was assassinated by one of his fellow San Francisco supervisors who opposed Harvey politically, and also opposed gay rights more broadly. Aware that he was at risk of assassination, Harvey had recorded a tape to be played in the event of his death, in which he stated, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country.”Harvey’s birthday, the 22nd of May, is commemorated as Harvey Milk Day each year.learn more with queer as fact: a queer history podcast[Image description: Harvey sitting on top on a car at the 1978 San Francisco Pride Parade, wearing a lei and holding a sign reading “I’m from Woodmere NY”; Harvey in his office for the 1977 signing of San Fracisco’s gay rights bill, laughing; Harvey sitting outside a shopfront with a sign reading “Castro Camera” and his dog] -- source link