​​​​​​​"Hope Will Never Be Silent:" Harvey Milk's Crusade for LGBTQIA+ Rights

Image courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle

     In his second campaign, Milk secured new allies in the Teamsters, firefighters, and environmentalists, all of whom showed newfound respect for the LGBTQIA+ community. He wasn't just the gay candidate, he was the best candidate. However, continued fears that LGBTQIA+ politicians would spread their supposedly dangerous lifestyle still prevented his success.​​​​​​​

"We must reach out to every possible group of people everywhere in the state. I urge every gay person to get involved in their local races - primary, etc. We will need as much help in our fight as we can get, and there is no better way of getting that help than to start to help others now."
~ Harvey Milk

"I cannot prevent anyone from getting angry, mad, or frustrated. I can only hope that they'll turn that anger and frustration and madness into something positive."
~ Harvey Milk

     During his third campaign, Milk was asked by the SFPD to stop an ensuing riot on Castro Street over a gay rights ordinance being removed in Florida. Milk rallied the crowd and turned the destructive riot into a peaceful march. 

     Milk also formed the San Francisco Gay Democrats Club, advocating for the election of homosexual politicians, not just gay-friendly ones. ​​​​​​​

Sir Ian McKellen reciting an excerpt from the Hope Speech, a prime example of Harvey's views on gay-friendly politicians. Courtesy of London's Almeida Theater.

     Milk finally won in 1977 due to a change in elections from citywide to district voting, support from Castro’s homosexual community, and from his new allies. He'd shattered the misguided beliefs of his conservative opponents and the Alice Club, leaving no doubt that a gay man could be elected to public office.

"It’s not my victory, it’s yours and yours and yours. If a gay can win, it means there is hope that the system can work for all minorities if we fight. We’ve given them hope."
~ Harvey Milk