Harvey Milk

Date of Birth: May 22, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: November 27, 1978

Biography

Harvey Bernard Milk was an American politician and the first openly gay elected official in California. Born on May 22, 1930, in Woodmere, New York, he embarked on a diverse career path before entering politics, including service in the U.S. Navy, work as a school teacher, and a stint on Wall Street. Milk moved to San Francisco in the early 1970s, where he became a leading figure in the gay rights movement. In 1977, he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, marking a significant milestone for the LGBTQ+ community. During his tenure, Milk championed a variety of social issues, including gay rights, affordable housing, and public transportation. He was instrumental in passing a major gay rights ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Tragically, Milk’s life and career were cut short when he was assassinated on November 27, 1978, by Dan White, a disgruntled former city supervisor. Despite his brief political career, Milk’s legacy endures, and he remains a symbol of courage and resilience in the fight for equality.

5 Interesting Facts about Harvey Milk

1. Harvey Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 by President Barack Obama.

2. Milk’s assassination, along with Mayor George Moscone’s, led to the infamous “Twinkie defense” used by Dan White’s legal team.

3. Harvey Milk’s life was the subject of the 2008 film “Milk,” in which Sean Penn portrayed him and won an Academy Award for his performance.

4. Milk served as a diving officer in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

5. Harvey Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, co-founded the Harvey Milk Foundation to promote LGBTQ+ rights and inclusivity globally.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harvey Milk

1. “Hope will never be silent.”

2. “All young people, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, deserve a safe and supportive environment in which to achieve their full potential.”

3. “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”

4. “It takes no compromise to give people their rights…it takes no money to respect the individual.”

5. “The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Harvey Milk did not achieve significant financial wealth. His highest net worth is estimated to have been modest, mostly derived from his camera shop and political salary.