The frenzy regarding Harvey Milk at this moment is similar to a perfect storm, with multiple elements coming together to celebrate the slain first openly gay man elected to public office. The Gus Van Sant film Milk, was released yesterday to nearly unanimous rave reviews for the film itself, as well as the performances of Sean Penn (as Milk) and James Franco (as his lover Scott Smith). Chances at a slew of awards nominations for the film now seems as solid as Oscar gold.
The second part comes from the mass protests in the wake of the passing of Proposition 8 in California. The events are eerily similar to those featured in the film regarding Milk's crusade against Proposition 6 (which would have banned gays from becoming teachers). Many critics who have seen the film have called the similar events a wake-up call to today's society.
Yet the third part of this perfect media storm comes in the form of today's date. It may be a slow day for new in North America, with the entire U.S. celebrating Thanksgiving, but it's also an important day in history. 30 years ago today, Harvey Milk was assassinated by his former coworker, Dan White. During his time as a politician, Harvey Milk was unabashedly out, something that may seem more normal in today's society, but was a cultural taboo in the 1970's. His courage to fight for the rights of the gay community gave the gay movement a face, and unfortunately, a martyr. While the movement may have started nearly a decade earlier with the Stonewall riots, it was Milk's death that acted as a catalyst for many in the LGBT community to take action. As a result, many people including myself, have civil rights that we may not have been granted otherwise, and also have to courage to fight for those we still don't have. So thanks Harvey. We may have come a long way since then, but it wouldn't have even started without you.
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