Harvey Milk

Chloe Addison September 22, 2009 Harvey Milk As of 1977, no openly gay politician had ever held office in the United States. Homosexuality, at the time, was frowned upon and therefore the idea of a someone with â€Å"different† sexual preferences holding office was almost an impossibility. As our country was evolving during the 70’s, gays and lesbians began fighting for their rights. The voice of this phenomenal movement was that of Harvey Milk. In 1977, Milk would change American politics forever. Harvey Milk was born in Woodmere, New York in 1930. He went on to college at New York State College for Teachers and majored in mathematics. After graduating, Milk joined the U. S. Navy during the Korean War. During this time, he was very successful and was discharged in 1955 as a lieutenant, junior grade. Following his time of service, Milk began teaching at George W. Hewlett High School. While teaching, Joe Campbell would enter Milk’s life. The two fell in love and moved in together, but after six years of being together, the two separated. Harvey Milk went on to court another man by the name of Craig Rodwell. Rodwellwas part of a gay activist group which was known for agitating the police. Despite being very involved with him, Milk felt he could not continue to be with him. As the United States changed in the 1960’s, opportunities for gays and lesbians began to present themselves. One of these opportunities was Castro Street in San Francisco. By 1969, San Francisco had the largest number of homosexuals per capita than any other city in the United States. Harvey Milk quickly recognized the Bay Area as the place he would be able to make an immediate difference for the gay community. He and his love interest at the time Scott Smith,opened a film shop on Castro Street. After numerous incidents and problems with government policies, Milk decided to run for office. If elected, he realized that he would be able to make a difference for the gay community in ways that no one previously was able to do. Running for office would not be easy at all. After revealing he would be running for office, noted activist in gay politics Jim Foster did not back Milk. Despite his endorsement, many gay bar owners quickly supported his ambitions. The owners were tired of police brutality and intolerance of their establishments. Despite running on extremely low funds, Milk’s fiery speeches drew him much attention during the 1973 elections. Though he did not win, this allowed him to gain a great amount of press. Milk developed anorganization known as the Teamsters. As the Teamsters grew, Milk’s popularity grew as well. He would go on to become loving known as â€Å"the Mayor of Castro Street†. Harvey Milk would eventually win the 1977 election for the California State Assembly. His inauguration made national headlines since he was the first openly gay non-incumbent man to win an election for public office. During his time in office, Milk strived to help gays get their rights that they so desperately deserved. At the 1978 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day, Milk delivered his most memorable speech, the â€Å"Hope Speech†. Sadly Harvey Milk’s groundbreaking career was cut short after being shot and killed in 1978. Harvey Milk â€Å"My name is Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you,† were the famous words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was elected after 3 times of losing the election because there weren’t enough people who support gay rights in San Francisco at the time. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. In present time only 10 states recognize gay marriage as a legal right. Numerous people believe that it is a sin for people of the same gender to get married. Many human right organization are advocating and protesting, that gay rights are human rights. Everyone should have the opportunity to equality in all aspects of life, such as equal marriage, medical benefits, adoption, and equal opportunities in the workforce. The Constitution it states, â€Å"†¦All men should be made equal. † This is the law. There is no way around the fact that every person deserves an equal opportunity in life regardless of what they do. People in society around the world face violence and inequality because of who they are and who they love. The fight for gay rights to become a human right has begun. But there are many people who feel as if this is a big mistake. Gay marriage has slowly become a social norm amongst individuals of today’s society. Initially, this leads to the discussion of homosexuals having the right to marry in society. Ultimately, conflict from the opposing position of ‘against’ gay marriage may arise that gay marriage can destroy the concept of marriage and mock the importance of the bible. In reference to this; everyone in society has the right to marry regardless of gender, thus it should be socially acceptable. However, this is why it is significant to discuss both sides of the argument, regardless homosexuals do not necessarily want to get marriage but may just want the justification of having equal rights. But there are people such as Jack Donnelley who commits to stating gay rights are not a human right. Donnelley explains how â€Å"homosexuality is widely considered immoral. He also states if human rights are paramount rights, not even all illegitimate discrimination falls under a human right to nondiscrimination. Donnelley explains how sexual minorities are merely people are all victims of racism, sexism, and religious persecution, they are human beings who identified by dominant social group as somehow less than a fully human and thus not entitle to the same rights as every â€Å"normal† human being would have. Marriage is a fundamental human right acco rding to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16, and the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Nevertheless, though not mentioned in the United States Constitution, it can be argued, as was the case in Iowa per the state’s own constitution, to be a matter of equal protection under the law. In the movie Milk, Harvey Milk was an advocate for gay rights. He believed that the more people who came out to their families the more people can relate having gay rights because they know someone who is gay and then society will become more acceptable to it. Regardless of the odds he keep fighting for the opportunity to become the first openly gay person to become elected into a political position. Harvey Milk influenced a lot of people during the time of his campaign, that gay rights were a human right. In the years since Milk’s assassination, public opinion has shifted on gay marriage, gays in the military, and other issues, and there have been hundreds of openly LGBT public officials in America, yet the work continues. As society begins to accept the LGBT community and homosexuals become openly about their relationships to one another, they become more valued members within their communities and the difference between living together or being married seems to disappear. As for homosexual couples who want to build and raise a family, adoption is the most popular action to partake in and socially this should be accepted within the rights of society. Allowing equal rights opportunities can also benefit the economy in several different ways. It can lower the unemployment rate, and also help the church communities who allow gay marriage. â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,† was a law established by congress that allowed homosexual men and women to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexual orientation private. On September 20, 2011, congress made history by passing a law repealing the â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tell† legislation of 1993. Thousands of service men and women came out of there proverbial closets, where many had been hiding their entire careers, to celebrate their new right to express themselves freely. Some even celebrated by marrying their longtime mates, an act that only brought to light a new issue. The United States government will not recognize same sex marriage on a federal level. As a result, same-sex unions are not recognized in the military and these couples are not eligible for married benefits. Plainly put, it is not fair. All married persons serving in the military should be eligible to receive the same benefits, regardless of sexual orientation. There will always be people against any decision that will be made if they make gay rights as a human right. People will always claim gays rights are against the bible. But if homosexuals are allowed an equal opportunity in society, than not only are the people going to find this a social normal but this is a progress in society, where we can help other countries and other organization continue battling human rights equality for the entire world. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. But I believe with Harvey Milk, coming out to family and friends helps advocate equality for all people including homosexual. Harvey Milk â€Å"My name is Harvey Milk, and I’m here to recruit you,† were the famous words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He was elected after 3 times of losing the election because there weren’t enough people who support gay rights in San Francisco at the time. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. In present time only 10 states recognize gay marriage as a legal right. Numerous people believe that it is a sin for people of the same gender to get married. Many human right organization are advocating and protesting, that gay rights are human rights. Everyone should have the opportunity to equality in all aspects of life, such as equal marriage, medical benefits, adoption, and equal opportunities in the workforce. The Constitution it states, â€Å"†¦All men should be made equal. † This is the law. There is no way around the fact that every person deserves an equal opportunity in life regardless of what they do. People in society around the world face violence and inequality because of who they are and who they love. The fight for gay rights to become a human right has begun. But there are many people who feel as if this is a big mistake. Gay marriage has slowly become a social norm amongst individuals of today’s society. Initially, this leads to the discussion of homosexuals having the right to marry in society. Ultimately, conflict from the opposing position of ‘against’ gay marriage may arise that gay marriage can destroy the concept of marriage and mock the importance of the bible. In reference to this; everyone in society has the right to marry regardless of gender, thus it should be socially acceptable. However, this is why it is significant to discuss both sides of the argument, regardless homosexuals do not necessarily want to get marriage but may just want the justification of having equal rights. But there are people such as Jack Donnelley who commits to stating gay rights are not a human right. Donnelley explains how â€Å"homosexuality is widely considered immoral. He also states if human rights are paramount rights, not even all illegitimate discrimination falls under a human right to nondiscrimination. Donnelley explains how sexual minorities are merely people are all victims of racism, sexism, and religious persecution, they are human beings who identified by dominant social group as somehow less than a fully human and thus not entitle to the same rights as every â€Å"normal† human being would have. Marriage is a fundamental human right acco rding to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 16, and the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Nevertheless, though not mentioned in the United States Constitution, it can be argued, as was the case in Iowa per the state’s own constitution, to be a matter of equal protection under the law. In the movie Milk, Harvey Milk was an advocate for gay rights. He believed that the more people who came out to their families the more people can relate having gay rights because they know someone who is gay and then society will become more acceptable to it. Regardless of the odds he keep fighting for the opportunity to become the first openly gay person to become elected into a political position. Harvey Milk influenced a lot of people during the time of his campaign, that gay rights were a human right. In the years since Milk’s assassination, public opinion has shifted on gay marriage, gays in the military, and other issues, and there have been hundreds of openly LGBT public officials in America, yet the work continues. As society begins to accept the LGBT community and homosexuals become openly about their relationships to one another, they become more valued members within their communities and the difference between living together or being married seems to disappear. As for homosexual couples who want to build and raise a family, adoption is the most popular action to partake in and socially this should be accepted within the rights of society. Allowing equal rights opportunities can also benefit the economy in several different ways. It can lower the unemployment rate, and also help the church communities who allow gay marriage. â€Å"Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,† was a law established by congress that allowed homosexual men and women to serve in the military as long as they kept their sexual orientation private. On September 20, 2011, congress made history by passing a law repealing the â€Å"Don’t ask don’t tell† legislation of 1993. Thousands of service men and women came out of there proverbial closets, where many had been hiding their entire careers, to celebrate their new right to express themselves freely. Some even celebrated by marrying their longtime mates, an act that only brought to light a new issue. The United States government will not recognize same sex marriage on a federal level. As a result, same-sex unions are not recognized in the military and these couples are not eligible for married benefits. Plainly put, it is not fair. All married persons serving in the military should be eligible to receive the same benefits, regardless of sexual orientation. There will always be people against any decision that will be made if they make gay rights as a human right. People will always claim gays rights are against the bible. But if homosexuals are allowed an equal opportunity in society, than not only are the people going to find this a social normal but this is a progress in society, where we can help other countries and other organization continue battling human rights equality for the entire world. Although times have changes and many people are more open minded and are more supportive of LGBT communities, the LGBT communities still do not have the same human rights as any other America have. But I believe with Harvey Milk, coming out to family and friends helps advocate equality for all people including homosexual.