Gay Pride: Milking It

"Milk's body lay in state alongside that of Mayor George Moscone in the City Hall Rotunda where a memorial service took place on November 29, 1978. Later the same day, a special memorial service was held at temple Emmanue-El, the first time an openly gay rabbi was permitted to officiate at that temple." Harvey Milk, Second Sight, by Bob Kelly.

In our continued Pride postings this month, we're taking a short pictorial look at photos of and by a young Harvey Milk, gaydom's first martyr. American politician and gay rights activist, Milk was the first openly gay city supervisor of San Francisco, California. He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978. Milk's assassin, Dan White, was sentenced to seven years in prison. Outrage over the verdict led to widespread rioting in San Francisco by enraged homosexuals and others. Milk lived openly at a time when doing so could severely restrict one's rise to success, in many it contributed to their failure. Not Milk, who rose to become one of the first openly gay politicians in gay history.

Harvey Milk, circa 1957

Harvey Milk and friends in New York, 1965

Joe Campbell, Milk's long-term companion

Milk, Miami Beach, 1965

Milk, circa 1963

For more information on Harvey Milk, check out Wikipedia's listing, and for more on the Harvey Milk pictorial, check out Bob Kelly's "Harvey Milk, Second Sight" display.