Thinking of Harvey Milk on Election Day.

By Shoshanah Oppenheim

Harvey Milk circa 1977Last week while at a conference on transit oriented development, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the opening of Milk, Gus Van Sant's new film about the life and times of Harvey Milk. Briefly, Harvey was the first openly gay elected official when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. A year later, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Supervisor Dan White. Mr. White avoided significant prison time by succesfully arguing that his poor diet caused him to be temporarly insane.

But Harvey was so much more, he was the heart of a movement and lived his motto, "to never blend in". He overcame the discrimination that the gay community experienced and followed his calling to be a leader.

On November 14th, as a benefit for Portland's Outside/In, Milk will be screened at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The film is a wonderful look at a manwho changed history as he bravely served his community.

I encourage you all to go and see the film and support Outside/In in their service of low-income and homeless adults and youth. Outside/In provides skill training, education, transitional housing and much more.

Harvey Milk is a hero of mine and Gus VanSant tells his story in an honest and delightful way.

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Posted Tue, 11/04/2008 - 3:42pm.

I was an offset pressman at

Submitted by Lenny Anderson on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 10:25am.

I was an offset pressman at Union Offset in San Francisco in November, 1978. We printed campaign material for both Harvey Milk and George Moscone.
I printed the program for Harvey Milk's memorial at the Opera House...my tears stained some of the copies. A sad, sad day.
Lyrics from a song ("The Ballad of Dan White") I later wrote after Mr. White was convicted only of involuntary manslaughter:

Little Danny threw a tantrum, and two good men are dead,
The jury they just slapped his wrist and sent him up...to bed.

» reply

The Mayor of Castro

Submitted by Buddy Rasberry on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 3:41pm.

I was very blessed on Nov 10th, to attend and very special screen of "Milk" at the Castro Theater. It was electric and motivating in ways that are hard to describe, considering the recent passage of Prop 8 here in California. The timing of this movies release i amazing, as well as the election of Sam Adams. I am proud to live here in the bay area, and so proud to call Portland the city where i grew up. Blessings.

» reply

The Mayor of Castro

Submitted by Buddy Rasberry on Thu, 11/20/2008 - 3:41pm.

I was very blessed on Nov 10th, to attend a very special screen of "Milk" at the Castro Theater. It was electric and motivating in ways that are hard to describe, considering the recent passage of Prop 8 here in California. The timing of this movies release i amazing, as well as the election of Sam Adams. I am proud to live here in the bay area, and so proud to call Portland the city where i grew up. Blessings.

» reply