I'm not one for the holiday season. Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been way too sanctimonious in my opinion, bringing out the worst in people and showing their penchant for the material in spades.That said, I can't let the day go by without giving thanks to the late, great Harvey Milk. It was 30 years ago today that the first elected gay official was assassinated, along with San Francisco Mayor George Mascone, at City Hall by Dan White.
Andy Towle:
Harvey Milk was known as the "Mayor of Castro Street", a pioneer and leader in every sense of the word, speaking out for the rights of gay people when it was a far more dangerous and rebellious act than it is today. It was a position that eventually cost him his life...Amen, Brother Andy...Amen!
Were it not for Harvey Milk I am fully convinced the gay rights movement might still be in the dark ages. We certainly wouldn't be on the verge of being able to marry. Long live his memory!
NBC's coverage of that horrible day, 30 years ago:
