Harvey Milk Thesis Statement

Throughout the course of history for the homosexual community, many people have played major roles in the push for equality and normalization of the gay and lesbian lifestyle. In the 1970s, Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man to be given a position in the California government. Milk pushed for homosexual men and women to always be open about their sexuality and who they are (Fenwick 32). Later on in the homosexual history timeline, Ellen DeGeneres opened up about being a lesbian on the television show, “Ellen” (Staff), kick starting the infusion of gays and lesbians into the entertainment business. Politically, Barack Obama made a huge impact on the current rights gays and lesbians have. In 2015, Obama signed a law making same-sex marriage legal across the entire United States. President Obama also declared an annual gay pride month, along with making gay hate crimes federal offenses, and ending gay conversion therapy for minors (Staff).

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, society wasn’t the most accepting of places for people who were different from the “social norms”. Now I know, people today still struggle with trying to fit in and be “normal” but it was different. Being a gay man living in San Fransisco at the time, which had a large gay population, Richard Rodriguez had a hard time dealing with the discrimination he faced. Richard Rodriguez was an American journalist who wrote and published a memoir about his life as a gay man. In October of 1990, Rodriguez published his memoir “Late Victorians” in Harper’s Magazine, a critically acclaimed publication of the time. In his memoir, Rodriguez describes what it was like to realize he was gay and watch as the country changed to become a more accepting place. He does this by setting up how things can change and then explaining the actual ways things change for the gay population.

Life for most homosexuals during the first half of the Twentieth century was one of hiding, being ever so careful to not give away their true feelings and predilections. Although the 1920s saw a brief moment of openness in American society, that was quickly destroyed with the progress of the Cold War, and by default, that of McCarthyism. The homosexuals of the 50s “felt the heavy weight of medical prejudice, police harassment and church condemnation … [and] were not able to challenge these authorities.” They were constantly battered, both physically and emotionally, by the society that surrounded them. The very mention or rumor of one’s homosexuality could lead to the loss of their family, their livelihood and, in some cases, their

Homosexual people have been misrepresented and refuted their basic civil rights in America over the years, especially during the late 1970s. During this time, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, was one of the most prominent spokesman on the issues surrounding gay rights. In 1978 he gave a speech impacting the gay citizens of San Francisco and America, the anti-gay right wing movement supporters, straight allies of the gay movement, and politicians in general. His speech known as the “Hope Speech” resonates with people even today as Milk attempted to address gay rights and the importance of electing gay officials in office, using various rhetorical strategies such as pathos, logos, and elevated diction.

This investigation assesses the New York City Stonewall Riots of 1969, concerning their influence on the rise of the modern gay rights movement, specifically regarding political emergence, social unity, and demographic shifts. The investigation will attempt to answer the following question: To what extent were the Stonewall Riots of 1969 a catalyst for the LGBT social movement in America?

In the 65-year history of LGBTQ activism in the United States, the present moment stands out on the basis of gay marriage being legalized. At no other time would an observer have imagined that the LGBTQ movement was likely to succeed in such a manner that any gender can marry any other gender with the permission by the law (Stewart-winter

Gays were forced to stay under the shadow. They were afraid to show their own true colors. Harvey Milk was a gay activist who had encouraged people to come out of the closet and join their organization to fight for their rights. He says “Burst down those closet doors and stand up once and for all, and start to fight.” (Document G) In the the quote he explains that people who are scared and haven’t come out of the closet should and help join the movement for equal rights for homosexuals. Harvey Milk’s encouragement had a big impact in the past organizations, his voice and words have impacted the LGBT society in a big way. In document H it shows how people were doing riots to express how they felt. This helped make people aware of their movement and what they want. They were able to express how they felt through these riots. Today, all these riots and LGBT activist work have made an everlasting impact. They had finished their goal and had legalized gay marriage, something they have been fighting for a long time. Even though they face discrimination, they have had made a huge step for equality because of their hard work in the past and

“Sex was something mysterious which happened to married couples and Homosexuality was never mentioned; my mother told me my father did not believe it existed at all ‘until he joined the army’. As a child, I was warned about talking to ‘strange men’, without any real idea what this meant. I was left to find out for myself what it was all about.” Mike Newman, who was a child during the 1950s America recalls how homosexuality was perceived during the post-World War II era (F). This sexual oppression was not only in Newman’s household, but in almost everyone’s. While the civil rights movement began in the mid-1950s and ended late 1960s, the LGBT community started to come out of the closet slowly. The gay rights movement stemmed from the civil rights movement

Supervisor Dianne Feinstein was shaking as she delivered the fateful line that would set an entire state ablaze. "Today San Francisco has experienced a double tragedy of immense proportions. As President of the Board of Supervisors, it is my duty to inform you that both Mayor Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk have been shot and killed," then adding after being drowned out by shouts of disbelief, "and the suspect is Supervisor Dan White." Uproar. Gays and pro-gays screamed out, be it in disbelief, terror, or for the blood of Daniel White. No one could believe it: the champion of gay rights, Harvey Milk, had been shot and killed. Harvey Milk, who had taken a stand as the first openly gay politician

In 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement, was the first gay rights demonstration which led to the gay liberation movement in the 70’s. Being such an impactful commemoration it inspired more liberating groups in the growing gay and lesbian world such as: feminist movements, record labels, music festivals and the National Organization for Women. This quickly evolved into acceptance in a place of worship when the first gay minister was ordained in ’72. Soon after, several large political groups formed in support of the growing “outing” of a gay society in a stand for gay rights. (Morris, 2017)

One of the most famous acts occurred on November 27, 1978. Harvey Milk, an openly gay San Francisco city supervisor and Mayor George Moscone (who was not a gay man) were assassinated by a political rival, Dan White, at San Francisco City Hall. Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. Deep into his office term he became an activist for the gay community, passing many gay rights ordinance for the city. He was an icon and a role model in the LGBTQI community before his untimely death (Shilts, 2008).

The topic that the proposed book focuses on considers the contentious impact of the 1969 Stonewall Riots upon the struggle for LGBT+ rights. This potential monograph, entitled “Riots for Rights: the Debatable Influence of Stonewall,” pursues to furthermore enhance the argument concerning whether the 1969 Stonewall Riots began the public LGBT+ movement for further rights, or if the converse occurred, wherein this momentous protest instead the culminated the LGBT+ efforts of the previous years, merely pushing it further into public discussion. In the modern era, LGBT+ rights still undergo fierce argument and debate, and so the proposed book’s topic certainly holds relevance in both a historical and political context that continues into the present day. Furthermore, another key importance for the publication of this monograph stands that while the voluminous documentation of the progression in LGBT+ rights Post-Stonewall exists, serious evaluation and comparison of the rights already developing before the 1969 Riots became widely publicized. “Riots for Rights: the Debatable Influence of Stonewall” would expand upon these facets and further the historical understanding of the still-evolving history of the modern-day LGBT+ movement.

Harvey Milk said, “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”(Aretha 83). Harvey Milk was the first gay politician that moved people’s hearts. He changed the way people thought about gay people back in the 1970’s. Defending homosexuals from criticism, he civilized them with the people. Since the background of homosexuality was harsh which affected Harvey Milk’s early life, he took the action to process of becoming civilized as an officer, and he left many legacies.

The climate of the 1960s was turbulent. This decade was marked by many political movements, which reflected support for non-establishment themes. During this time the “sexual liberation movement” became a popular cause. This intensified social and political interest helped many disadvantaged groups to receive support and attention that previously had never been received. As part of the nation’s desire for sexual political liberation, gay liberation became visible.

Professor Johnson’s lecture sparked conversation about whether or not the Supreme Court ruling accomplished enough for the LGBT community. At the time, I was unaware of how the ruling could be something that wasn’t an all-around win for the community, but after being introduced to queer politics