Throughout America’s history there have been ongoing disputes over many controversial issues. One major issue was the Gay Rights Movement. During this time lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people were discriminated against because of their sexuality. Harvey Milk had a huge impact on this movement by becoming the first openly gay elected Supervisor in San Francisco, California. Harvey Milk’s bravery and death started a growing support for Gay Rights in America. Harvey Milk’s motivation to become involved in public office began after a police raid in New York City. Outraged by the discrimination, many gays moved to Castro District in San Francisco, California. Castro District is a small part of the town where gays can live …show more content…
Proposition 6, also known as The Briggs Initiative, was a statewide ballot in California that would have prevented the LGBT community from working in public schools. With help from Ronald Reagan, Milk defeated the ballot in 1978. “There is little doubt Milk’s yeoman efforts against Proposition 6 were significant” (Working | The American Spectator). Milk encouraged all gay teachers to come out and live openly. He did not want them to be afraid to be themselves, stating, “Gay people, we will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets. We are coming out to fight the lies, the myths, the distortions. We are coming out to tell the truths about gays, for I am tired of the conspiracy of silence, so I’m going to talk about it. And I want you to talk about it. You must come out” (Milk Foundation.org). Milk was going to make sure that all LGBT people would be equal to every other person in the state of California and hopefully beyond. Because of Milk’s hard work, teachers today can support homosexuality and be known as gay or …show more content…
Milk was shot and killed in office by Dan White. “On November 27, 1978, White entered City Hall with a loaded .38 revolver” (Harvey Milk Biography). White shot Milk several times before leaving the building and turning himself into the police. It did not come as a surprise to many people because of the numerous death threats he received. After Milk’s death, the US Navy named a ship after him, the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), for his moving decision of coming out. “‘Naming a ship after Milk, will further send a green light to all the brave men and women who serve our nation that honesty, acceptance and authenticity are held up among the highest ideals of our military,’ said Milk’s nephew Stuart Milk in a statement to San Diego LGBT Weekly in 2012” (@samlgrone). Milk not only helped the gay community but also all other people in supporting their own beliefs and being proud of