May 23, 2008

Harvey Milk Statue Unveiling At City Hall

Yesterday would have been San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk's 78th birthday. After years of work raising money, community organizers were finally able to unveil a bust of Harvey Milk that will now be placed in a prime position at City Hall. And where did it finally get placed? Right up at the top of the grand staircase in front of the Supervisors' Chambers. It's the very same spot that is frequently used for weddings because it is so grand and impressive.

"Harvey would have loved it," was the phrase the dignitaries kept saying over and over in dedication speeches last night. First of all, he loved the grand staircase, especially when they brought out the red carpet for important visitors. Second, he would of loved the irony of having his head appear in the background of every photo taken by straight kids getting married in the City Hall rotunda. But most of all, he would have loved the fact that GAY couples can now get married in that same City Hall, the culmination of all his hard work.

The ceremony and reception brought out all the movers and shakers in this gay town. Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official would never have conceived of the political line-up that opened the event. There on stage was a gay State Senator, a gay State Assemblyman, two gay former Board of Supervisor Presidents, and the most gay-friendly mayor imaginable.

The inscription on the statue reads, "I ask for the Movement to continue because my election gave young people out there hope. You gotta give 'em hope." Leading the way up the stairs to the unveiling were a group of kids from the Gay Straight Alliance, but the one that brought tears to eyes of this jaded old queen was a 10 year old student from the Harvey Milk Academy.

NAMEDROPPING: Leading the charge to bring this project to life was Danny Nicoletta, the photographer whose image was used as the inspiration for the bust. Harvey Milk's gay nephew Stuart Milk, accepted a proclamation from the U.S. House of Representatives signed by Nancy Pelosi declaring May 22nd as "Harvey Milk Day". Cleve Jones, creator of the AIDS Quilt, Harry Britt, Harvey Milk's successor on the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Supervisor Bevan Dufty, Senator Carol Migden, Assemblyman Mark Leno, comic Marga Gomez, Empress Donna Sachet, and a rainbow coalition of gay people who get things done in this town.

Posted by lavenderlounge at 9:37 AM

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