Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk, a 1930-born American, first worked for a Wall Street investing business after serving in the U.S. Navy. Even though he came out as homosexual at a young age, he didn't come out publicly until much later in life. Early in the 1970s, Milk settled in San Francisco and became a prominent political leader for the LGBT community. When he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, he became the first out homosexual public official in the United States.
Today's activists are motivated by Milk's revolutionary political viewpoint. At a time when the political environment was extremely unfriendly toward the LGBTQIA+ community, he spoke up for homosexual rights and succeeded in bringing many LGBTQIA+ persons out of the closet and onto the streets. But like many others who stood up for what they believed, he was murdered in 1978 at the age of 48 by a former employee. Ten days before his assassination, Milk recorded a recording of himself saying, "All I ask is for the movement to continue, and if a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door", knowing the risks and virtually foreseeing this conclusion.
Detailed information:
Full name: Harvey Milk
Date of birth: 22 May 1930
Date of death: 27 November 1978
Known for:
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Known for quotes like “Hope is never silent”
