MILK

Yesterday I went to see the movie MILK starring Sean Penn. I have always loved movies that are based on true events and real people. I’m sure most of you have heard of this movie since it’s been up for so many awards.

Milk is about Harvey Milk the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. I never really realized the importance his life or how much he accomplished in such a short time. Of course I was only 13 years old when he was elected to office. I remember some of the key events like the Anita Bryant crusade against the gay community.

The movie starts with Harvey talking about being 40 and having never done anything he was proud of. The story then documents the final 8 years of his life. I found it very amazing the accomplishments he made in such a short time.

He was elected to the office of City Supervisor in the City of San Francisco. Less than a year after he was sworn in he was assassinated along with the Mayor of San Francisco “George Moscone”.

His fight for equal rights for gays and lesbians and the blockage of Proposition 6 was a huge accomplishment. For those not aware of what Prop 6 or the “Briggs Initiative” it would have made firing gay teachers and any public school employees who supported gay right mandatory.

Things that were not in the movie…

Mayor Moscone appointed Harvey Milk to the Board of Permit Appeals in 1976, making him the first openly gay city commissioner in the United States. He only held this position 5 weeks before the mayor was forced to fire him when Harvey announced he was running for the California State assembly.

It’s sad that his life was cut so short. I wonder what accomplishments this man would have had if he had lived longer.

I was very impressed with the movie and would certainly recommend it.