Harvey Milk Day: Who was the California politician and why is he celebrated?

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Tragically, his life was cut short when he was assassinated on 27 November 1978, less than a year after he took his seat on the city’s board of supervisors.

While perhaps little-known outside of California, Harvey Milk is a very important historical figure who has come into focus just as Pride month is getting underway.

On June 3, Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on the US Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk. The vessel was given the name in 2016, and Hegseth defended the name change under a greater policy of reestablishing “the warrior culture” within his department.

The move has been criticized by gay rights activists, who see the renaming as a direct attack on the history and contributions of LGBTQ service members. Milk is served in the Navy. He served in the Korean War as a diving officer, and after the war, he continued serving as a diving instructor in San Diego. He earned the rank of, but left the Navy when he received an “other than honorable” discharge, facing the threat of being court-martialled for his sexual orientation. Milk served in the US military before Pete Hegseth was born, just one example of how Americans of all sexual orientations have served the country throughout its history.

Who was Harvey Milk?

Before entering politics, Milk was a successful businessman who became a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco’s Castro district. The area was well-known for being a gay neighbourhood, one of the first in the country.

In 1977, he defied societal norms by running for public office as an openly gay man, a first in California history. Despite facing prejudice and losing his initial campaigns, Milk shattered barriers by becoming the first openly gay elected official in California, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

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During his short time in office, Milk helped pass legislation prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing and work. However, his tenure in office was cut short in 1978 after he was assassinated by Dan White, a former city supervisor.

Through his pioneering work and advocacy, Harvey Milk paved the way for future generations of LGBTQ+ individuals to live authentically and without fear of discrimination. Harvey Milk Day is celebrated on his birthday, May 22, to honour his contributions.