Harvey Milk was an openly gay politician who made history by becoming the first elected to public office in California.
Harvey Milk was an American civil rights leader and political activist. He was the first openly gay elected official in California, winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was a passionate advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and used his platform to fight for their equal rights and visibility, making him a pioneering figure of the gay rights movement.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1930</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Harvey Milk is Born</div><div class='timeline-text'>On May 22, 1930, Harvey Milk was born in Woodmere, New York.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1951</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Joins U.S. Navy</div><div class='timeline-text'>Harvey Milk joined the United States Navy where he served during the Korean War.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1972</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Moves to San Francisco</div><div class='timeline-text'>Milk moved to San Francisco and opened a camera store on Castro Street.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1977</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Elected to San Francisco Board of Supervisors</div><div class='timeline-text'>Harvey Milk made history by becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>1978</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Assassination of Harvey Milk</div><div class='timeline-text'>On November 27, 1978, Harvey Milk was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by former Supervisor Dan White.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>2009</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Harvey Milk Day Established</div><div class='timeline-text'>Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger designates May 22 as "Harvey Milk Day" in California.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date'>2014</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>U.S. Postal Service Honors Milk</div><div class='timeline-text'>The U.S. Postal Service issues a Harvey Milk Forever Stamp, honoring his legacy.</div></div></div>
Harvey Milk, an American civil rights leader and martyr for LGBTQ rights, was born on May 22, 1930. When he tragically died from an assassination in 1978, he was 48 years old. He is best remembered as a pioneer in the LGBTQ rights movement and the first openly gay person to be elected into public office in the U.S.