Gay Rights: Candlelight Walk Organized For Harvey Milk Death Anniversary
This upcoming November 27 will be the 40th anniversary of the assassination of gay rights icon Harvey Milk. As a way to honor his memory, the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club is organizing a candlelight walk from the Harvey Milk Plaza all the way to San Francisco City Hall.
The walk echoes the same spontaneous actions that culminated in the White Night Riots that happened after the voluntary manslaughter conviction of Dan White, Milk’s killer.
The club recalled the night of that event on the Facebook Event page set up for the walk, writing: “In November of 1978, bookending the Thanksgiving holiday, the city of San Francisco and, it might be said, the world was changed forever. The double horror of the tragedy at Jonestown, followed by the slaying of Harvey Milk and George Moscone was a crushing trauma to the heart and soul of San Francisco, and yet in that darkness we rose together in candlelight not only to remember those we had lost but to strengthen and galvanize ourselves to give them voice to continue their fight and and vision for the future.”
The club also included gay rights activist Sally Miller Gearhart’s memories of that walk 40 years ago. According to Gearhart, the walk was “one of the most eloquent expressions of a community’s response to violence that I’ve ever seen, and I think that we as lesbians and gay men, and all the straight people who were marching with us that night – and there were thousands – I think we said it. I think we sent a message to the nation that night about what our immediate response was – not violence, but a certain respect for Harvey and a deep… a deep… regret and feeling of tragedy about it, because Moscone had been our friend as well.”
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official of California. During his 11 months as part of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Milk passed a stringent gay rights ordinance for San Francisco. He also opposed the Briggs Initiative, which would have made firing gay teachers—and any public school employees who supported gay rights—mandatory.
Milk’s life has also been adapted into the award-winning film Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant.
A walk. OK, people will be “strengthened” (meaning “to make stronger; give strength to”) and “galvanized” (meaning “shocked or excited), typically into taking action)”.
Ok, so people will be made stronger to take action.
But it’s a walk. Where’s the action? Where’s the fundraising for gay causes (HIV, mental health, addiction, homelessness, bullying … oh, wait, those affect ALL KINDS of people)? Maybe the report in the blog here didn’t report it, but will funds be raised? Will “how to” information be provided?
A walk. We all show up. We feel empowered. We walk. We feel good.
And then we go home. Having done … nothing of substance.
Will change be motivated on the 27th? Will there any push to raise funds to support gay issues? Will guidance be given about how to contact the offices of elected officials and what to say to enact/change laws? Will any support be available as to how to work at a local level to create groups to affect change?
Or will we just walk and go home?
But, hey, we’ll all feel good about ourselves. Because we “walked”.
I’ve been involved in walks in the past. I support friends and family who do when they’re raising money. Currently I”m working with an organization that has me contacting law makers about change … and making a difference.
A walk gives those unseen and unheard an opportunity to practice a catharsis…so, it will be good for those who choose to exercise.
Will it change anything? No, because there isn’t anything behind it. Just a ‘public display’ of forced solidarity without heart and soul or as conventional wisdom dictates:
…”As useless as Tits on a Nun’!
As a little boy playing with toys in front of the TV and hearing the news that Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed in San Francisco 1978 [wow, that boggles my mind, could it be 40 years ago?] I can recall Diane Fienstein crying as she relayed that news in real time, as it seems NEWS was the first LIVE TV of that decade … I didn’t know what ‘gay’ meant, but I recall both my parents being upset because no one should be killed in such a tragic and public way … and neither would either of my parents make excuses for unkind stereotypes, much less for self-loathing homophobic murderers … so I never understood a lot of what, or why it was happening. That week I recall my mom crying as we watched TV, and also witnessed the silent candle lit walk from the Castro to City Hall (a technique Harvey Milk had used to UNITE HIS community), yeah sure, maybe her tears were for Moscone, maybe because my dad worked in our local C.Hall, but I guess deep down, it was more of a ‘human moment’ in which one feels the pain of others UNITED …
Fast forward to my teen years and I accidentally find a book in the public library: THE MAYOR OF CASTRO STREET (1982 Biography of H. Milk) written by the amazing Randy Shilts, and suddenly I recognized and realized just WHO Harvey Milk was. I was surprised it took so long for Gus VZ’s 2008 multi-Academy Award Winning Film, to be made. It just seemed they way society changed, and no doubt MUCH of that change came on the back of a MAN like MILK who was willing to forego the benefits of living in silence and instead CHOOSING to living OUT and PROUD.
I often come on here to share my thoughts, how appreciative I am of those who came before me – like thanking the veterans who assured my freedom, and opportunities in college, I feel the need to show my gratefulness for the kindness, consideration of the men who made this community.
Those who taught me to be strong in the face HATE.
I realize that often in order to keep an open dialogue it is important to allow everyone to say their piece. I guess I am just continually shocked when so much of the harshness comes from our own ranks, and often it IS hateful. I don’t really have it in me to “TAKE ON” unkind sentiment expressed in these blogs (Why come out? What Pride? Queeny-Stupid f****ts, one and all), especially when it comes from what men like Harvey Milk made me believe were my brothers in arms. How sad I am for so many of you, (and all the more grateful for my parents)! However, I guess I am just too jaded by today’s NEWS, where on a daily basis I watch hate and divisiveness polarized and politicized, (left, right, liberal, conservative, etc.) we need not wait on Russian Trolls to torch our intolerance, they only need to spark the fumes of razing vapors that dwell in our conflagrated hearts.
Yet still I am shocked,
HERE on A4A,
would-be-men, who have lived through many of my own experience, accept that self-denigrating bigotry rife in their minds: little boys running up ant hills, justifying their right to do it all or do nothing, all the time missing the fact that the other little boys outside the party hate you for who you ARE and NOT for WHAT YOU DO or SAY …
A silent walk speaks volumes about WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, and HOW a community gathers, and I doubt Harvey Milk [or Gandhi for that matter] would be further honored if that walk were based on a predetermined financial gain.
SUBSTANCE is about CHARACTER; it lives in our hearts and minds and not wallets
Amen brother! and thank you for stating it so well! I would walk with you or anyone who could feel empowered and good because anyone who actually does stuff knows the act of doing is as much for the self as it is for the others. The drama boys here would be so much more men when they do stuff based on personal value and not what it might mean to others. funny, the complainers here always sound as USELESS, POINTLESS, and the NON DIFFERENCE MAKERS, affecting the NO CHANGE, THEY rant about. you nailed it, and generations of 20-60 year old BOYS only concerned with self gratification is all about THEMSELVES.
why don’t we organize a “straight men for equal rights” march , walk, swim or whatever for the straight men who don’t get half dressed,butt naked or swish down the streets grabbing at their “junk” WTF but do contribute to all those who choose to be “forcibly out” . A lot of them have risked their lives to contribute to “your cause” whatever it may be by serving, terms in foreign lands daily risking their lives so you can be Gay. why not just be gay and let it be that instead of yelling it from the Mtn top like it is a merrit badge worn on the chest to show all
enough said !
Good point, Mike. And why not a White guys for equal rights March? And a Christian guys for gay rights, too? Jewish while we’re at it. How about Conservatives, too?. There are until numbers of guys who have supported gays but get dismissed because they just not the darlings of the Party who claims to own such causes.
you are comparing Harvey Milk to Ghandi. that is a “bit of a far reach” to say the least and Ghandigi , from all global sources, was not Gay.
Yeah ignoramus, he compared a martyr to a martyr, do you even know what a martyr is? They are the ones that make life better for the rest of us. Congrats on not being too out, and offering to set up stereotypical swish marches (what gems you and hunter500 always sound like), convincing others what they need not do. While you’re at it why not stop justifying why you wont be doing anything, we all get you are so above it all and that is yourrr merit badge. In your narcissistic rant you fail to see that there are no causes you would die for, you sad spoiled self serving piece of wasted human.
Says Ranttrap who posts anonymously instead of having the balls to rant under his actual (searchable) screen name.
Yeah hunter0500? You call me out because I don’t have a searchable screen name? and what pray tell will I learn from your bs profile that is more substantive than the things you say here? I can see anonymous you as well as you can see the real me, in MY WORDS. you regularly post wildly crude and excess unnecessary drivel that betters NO ONE personally, and serves only YOUr agendas. For years, I watched you bad mouth the moderator here, put down the person/s featured in the blog, and generally leave each story unnecessarily worse than you found it. Hey, say whatever you think, but at least have the class to realize that the words in the blog speak of PEOPLE, that each comment was made by a PERSON. at least take some self reflection, because for a long time I just read and walked away from giant negative stereotypes and bash-and-runs at your hands. BUT THEN I DECIDED TO START RESPONDING, to everyone who said something bullyish and guess what? you, and matt, and mike, actually started writing in a more considerate way. you might think your sarcasm is art, but the only irony I find is that when you get called out, YOU do not like it! before you personalize it – you came at me when I addressed it generally, you might consider how it feels to read your commentary. Go analyze your first post ABOVE.
>>You ponder and redefine DAVE’s words:
‘“strengthened” (meaning “to make stronger; give strength to”) and “galvanized” (meaning “shocked or excited), typically into taking action)”.’
>>Then you sarcastically come to the conclusion:
“Ok, so people will be made stronger to take action.”
>>Then you strike at the foolishness of all of us idealistic fools who don’t GET what apparently guys like you GET:
“But it’s a walk. Where’s the action? Where’s the fundraising for gay causes (HIV, mental health, addiction, homelessness, bullying … oh, wait, those affect ALL KINDS of people)? Maybe the report in the blog here didn’t report it, but will funds be raised? Will “how to” information be provided?”*
>>*[The above is especially humorous because you never seem concerned in your comments about the abused, neglected, or bullied, or those you put down, if you are not sure what I mean, go back and read my comments specifically in reply to your bashing of thought, words, and ideals of others in previous blogs.]
>>Then you go in for the kill, submitting your PROOF that those of us thinking we are doing something by walking are NOT doing anything of substance:
“A walk. We all show up. We feel empowered. We walk. We feel good.
…. And then we go home. Having done … nothing of substance.”
….Will change be motivated on the 27th? Will there any push to raise funds to support gay issues? Will guidance be given about how to contact the offices of elected officials and what to say to enact/change laws? Will any support be available as to how to work at a local level to create groups to affect change?
….Or will we just walk and go home?
>>And then you return to the sarcasm, furthering your proof idealists have done nothing:
‘But, hey, we’ll all feel good about ourselves. Because we “walked”. ‘
>>And then, at last, your self aggrandizing:
“I’ve been involved in walks in the past. I support friends and family who do when they’re raising money. Currently I”m working with an organization that has me contacting law makers about change … and making a difference.”
your contribution is disgusting and I find it personally offensive, so do not tell me that I have not been strengthened by being out and getting punched in the face for it. for standing up to the asshole who shouts faggot at me. you belittle my experience when you tell others THEY don’t need to react to it, or try to state that you are some kind of hero because you once took on the guy who said something homophobic in a staff meeting. What you don’t know could fill blogs, and it certainly has. you ARE THAT BULLY, and you just got punked here because you have never “walked” in your life if it wasn’t for some ulterior gain. Try to understand what I am saying to you, because there is still hope for you, I’m not sure what your “substance” is based on, but how dare you tell me that if I choose to march down the street and say to the world that I own my sexuality, and proudly march or wave a flag, that I am simply “walking”
Gandhigi? Was speaking of the Mahatma: Mohandas Gandhi, also known as the Gandhi ji “The father of the nation of India” and not the neologism Gandigiri (which references the ideas and tenets).
No idea what Gandhi’s sexual habits were; nor did I compare the cause célèbre of those two men. Instead, made the point that “raising money” does not raise the ethos of either man or change the pathos of their movements. However, based on comments and responses, I doubt you followed my reach at all.