Queer Activists
Milk's Career
While living in San Francisco with his new lover, Scott Smith, Harvey Milk began to develop and find his voice in politics and protesting. In 1973, marked the first time Harvey Milk announced his candidacy for the position on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. With little money, and the little experience, ultimately costed Milk to not win his election to become a member on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Though he lost, it did stop his passion or drive to still try and become a member of the board. He ended up trying again two years later and still lost but not by that much. At this time, Harvey Milk had become more well known and had the reputation to be an outspoken leader for gay rights in his San Francisco community.
After having lost two consecutive elections, that still did not deter Milk from trying again the third time, but this time Milk finally had won a seat, becoming a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This was a huge accomplishment in his career and also a big deal for gay rights in America. In 1978, Milk became one of the first openly gay members to be elected to office in the United States.
Not too long after Milk was elected, tragically he was assassinated by Dan White, who was against San Francisco’s gay rights law, and removed himself as city supervisor because of it. Harvey Milk was one of the first leaders in America to fight for gay rights and laws against gay discrimination, or any unfair treatment based on the person’s sexual orientation. One of memorable victories included winning against the California state’s proposal that would not allow lesbian or gay people from being teachers in California public schools.