Harvey Milk Ap Language

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During the 70s, the great transformative motions for gay rights and activism were at a peak never seen before. One of the great figures of this transformative period was Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of the U.S. While he faced much backlash for his sexuality, he actively participated in his community and fought to ensure they were represented. When tensions grew against the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco Harvey Milk delivered a speech for his community to celebrate and platform California’s Gay Freedom Day. In his speech, Harvey Milk argues the importance of decent and equal LGBTQ+ representation in everyday life for progressiveness. The media represents society as in a conservative place …show more content…

It is discussed by Harvey Milk the difference between a gay person and a friend in office. “In Dade County we are accused of child molestation. It’s not enough anymore just to have friends represent us. No matter how good that friend may be. (3)” Harvey Milk uses a comparison when discussing the experiences associated with a friend in office compared to that of a gay person in office. Through this comparison it is highlighted that a gay politician single handily understands the struggle and the trauma someone of the gay community goes through. Which is something the friend Politian cannot experience. Thus, it is depicted through this comparison that in order for the community to be properly represented and be given dignity along with their rights the one who represents them must understand the severity to stand up for their community and get them towards a progressive place. Additionally, Harvey Milk utilizes syntax to carefully structure his sentences to impact his audience with his argument. He structures his first couple of sentences with the fact the black community chose to elect leaders to dispel the myths against them (4). Then he inserts a similar phrase about a marginalized community and how “they must not be judged” by the marginalized community’s “criminals or myths. (4)” Then he ends his paragraph with “And the time has come when the gay community must not be judged by our criminals and myths. (4)” The specific structuring Milk uses emphasizes his point that to rid themselves of the harmful stertypoes and myths associated with them they must stand up and receive the proper representation of their community through leaders of their own respective community. Therefore, Harvey milk’s application of experiences and examples from the past conclude that a proper presentation of