Allison+-+SSC+-+FA09


 * Harvey Milk ** 

The main goal of Harvey Milk was to promote gay rights. He was the first openly gay man with a substantial political office in American history, after being elected to the City Council of San Francisco.
 * Social Change Movement: **

Harvey Milk, an openly gay activist, ran for office and lost in 1973. Four years later, after running again, he was elected as the Supervisor in 1977. He received support from people all throughout the community and was a candidate of all minorities.
 * Promotion/Drive for Change: **

As a gay man in San Francisco, Milk was familiar with the prejudices against homosexuals and was championed by the gays within his community. A Supervisor, Milk led the San Francisco City Council to pass the Gay Rights Ordinance in 1978 that protected gays from being fired from their jobs because of their homosexuality. He represented hope and inspiration to all. 

However, on November 28, 1978 Milk, along with Mayor George Moscone of San Francisco were shot to death in their offices by Dan White. White was a former Supervisor of the city who was angry at not being reappointed to the position from which he had earlier resigned. Milk and Mascone’s murderer was convicted and sentenced to only five years in prison for his crime, causing outrage from the gay community.

Born in New York in 1930, he graduated from the New York College for Teachers. Additionally, he served four years in the Navy and taught mathematics and history. Later, he became an actuary for an insurance company and a researcher for Wall Street Securities Firm. Becoming unsettled and bored after several years of drifting through various jobs, he moved to San Francisco in 1972. There he opened a camera shop on Castro Street, which lie in the heart of the gay community.
 * Occupation/ Socio-Economic Background **:

Harvey Milk was a homosexual man who wanted homosexuals to enjoy the same rights and freedoms enjoyed by heterosexuals. He won office in an era where homosexuality was often still considered a mental illness by many. San Francisco had a large homosexual population which gave him a base of support to which he added broader support from throughout the city. He became a visible symbol of pride within the gay community that they could lead more open and normal lives. Milk became a martyr when he was killed. His courage and success opened doors and inspired others.
 * Arguments: **

Caeser Chavez campaigned for worker’s rights and organized farm workers for better wages. Both Milk and Chavez admired each other for their work and tireless effort in the causes they believed in so deeply. Later, Chavez’s descendants, especially his granddaughter Christine, supported a day in honor of Harvey Milk.
 * References: **

Citations

CLOUD, JOHN. "TIME 100: Harvey Milk." //Time Inc. Portal//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. . "Milk, Lucas among 13 inducted in Hall of Fame." //San Francisco Bay Area — News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Classifieds: SFGate//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. . "The Biography Channel - Notorious Crime Profiles Dan White." //Biography.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. . "The Castro | Resource Guide | Harvey Milk, Hero and Martyr." //KQED Public Media for Northern CA//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. <http://www.kqed.org/w/hood/castro/resourceguide/harveymilk.html> "The Castro | Resource Guide | Harvey Milk, Hero and Martyr." //KQED Public Media for Northern CA//. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. <http://www.kqed.org/w/hood/castro/resourceguide/harveymilk.html>.