Leslea Newman's A Letter To Harvey Milk

The short story “A Letter to Harvey Milk”, by Leslea Newman, comprises nine short stories to tell a story about two people that are gay living in a heterosexual America. Newman uses the LGBTQ theory concepts of lesbian, internalized homophobia, homophobia, heteronormativity, heterosexism, and heterocentrism, to bring to light the story of what it was like to be gay and Jewish in San Francisco, California during the 1970’s and 80’s. This story conveys meaning and gives hope to those who are experiencing the pains associated with growing through their own self-discovery while seeking acceptance for being gay.

At the beginning of the story, Newman introduces us to the main character, Harry Weinberg, a widowed 77-year-old Holocaust survivor. Harry

Barbara only finds the courage to come out to Harry after finding out that he was friends with Harvey Milk and that he did not discriminate against him. A female that is gay is referred to as a lesbian. Lois Tyson defines a lesbian as a woman whose sexual desires are directed toward women. Lesbianism allows women to claim back power that is typically lost in a patriarchal society by denying men access to their

Harry’s beliefs about being gay were heteronormative, in which we see when he is thinking to himself “didn’t God in His wisdom make a girl a girl and a boy a boy-boom they should meet, boom they should get married, boom they should have babies, and that’s the way it is. Harvey, I loved my own son, but I never could understand. (Newman 37) Heteronormativity is defined as it’s “what makes heterosexuality seem coherent, natural, and privileged”. It involves the assumption that everyone is ‘naturally’ heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is an ideal, superior to homosexuality or bisexuality.” (European Institute for Gender