Before Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office, he was a sailor taking thirst traps.
A bit of family history, my own brother Mike marched in the first Gay Liberation day alongside Harvey Milk. In 1975 Mike was fresh out of San Francsico State University and was looking around for employment he would enjoy.
At the same time SF Supervisor Harvey Milk was looking for employees to work on his various political ambitions. Harvey had the long range goal of becoming San Francisco’s first openly gay mayor. Harvey hired Mike as a paid gopher and provide him with transportation to run errands, pass out flyers, etc.
Mike was still working for Harvey when the shocking Police Officier Dan White murder of Harvey and Mayor Mosconi took place. Mike was one of the many let go as the result of the murder, but remembers Harvey as a great guy both to work for and as a friend. Mike saw Harvey as becoming a gay leader of the gay movement in Martin Luther King style.
When you remember Harvey Milk, please never forget that he was an ordinary gay man like the rest of us.
Really great to read all of this here and see these photos.
Much appreciated.