Harvey Milk Day 2013: LGBT Leader Remembered 35 Years After Death

35 YEARS LATER
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 22: A supporter holds a sign with the image of slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk during a rally at San Francisco City Hall on February 22, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Dozens of supporters staged a rally in front of San Francisco City Hall to support San Francisco supervisor David Campos's Harvey Milk SFO charter amendment that aims to change the name of the San Francisco International Airport to Harvey Milk SFO in honor of the Milk who was the first openly gay elected official in the United States. Milk was assassinated on November 27, 1978 along with then San Francisco Mayor George Moscone by Dan White, a San Francisco supervisor who had recently resigned. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 22: A supporter holds a sign with the image of slain San Francisco supervisor Harvey Milk during a rally at San Francisco City Hall on February 22, 2013 in San Francisco, California. Dozens of supporters staged a rally in front of San Francisco City Hall to support San Francisco supervisor David Campos's Harvey Milk SFO charter amendment that aims to change the name of the San Francisco International Airport to Harvey Milk SFO in honor of the Milk who was the first openly gay elected official in the United States. Milk was assassinated on November 27, 1978 along with then San Francisco Mayor George Moscone by Dan White, a San Francisco supervisor who had recently resigned. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Harvey Milk may have been a San Francisco city supervisor 35 years ago, but with Pride preparations underway, a tribute concert piece debuting at the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus next month and a Supreme Court Proposition 8 decision on the horizon, his message is as timely as ever.

On May 22, LGBT supporters across the nation will celebrate the fourth annual Harvey Milk Day honoring the activist and politician who was killed alongside San Francisco Mayor George Moscone in 1978.

"He knew you had to make change," said gay rights activist Robin Galbraith in an interview with USA Today about Milk. "Our community has to understand you have a voice, and if you don't use it, nothing will change."

Though California is the only state that officially recognizes the holiday, celebrations can be found across the country. (For a list of events in your town, click here.)

In 2009, President Obama posthumously awarded Milk the highest civilian honor, a Medal of Freedom.

"Milk encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens to live their lives openly and believed coming out was the only way they could change society and achieve social equality," wrote the White House in an announcement.

"It brings great pride to San Franciscans that Harvey Milk will receive this award posthumously," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi at the time.

Check out photos of Harvey Milk's life and legacy in the slideshow below:

Before You Go

May 22, 1930

Harvey Milk Day

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