2. Milk’s Early
Life Born in 1930 to immigrant
parents
Served in Navy1950-53 for
Korean War
Lived in New York during his
early life after returning from
Korean War
Early career in teaching and
finance
His own parents and relatives
did not know he was gay
Almost married a lesbian so
they could “have a front”
and not be in each other’s
way
For much of his young adult life, Milk chose to keep his
domains very separate from each other
3. Milk’s Move into Politics
Moves to San Francisco in 1972, opens Castro Camera
Quickly became “Mayor of Castro Street”
1973 – Less than a year after moving, runs for San Francisco
Supervisor in 1973, placed tenth
1974 – Runs again, loses by 4,000 votes
1977 – After implementing District elections, wins!
Nov. 1978 – Assassinated by Dan White, 9 months after
being inaugurated
White acquitted of murder via “twinkie defense” – ate so
much junk food that he was temporarily insane
1972-1978
“If a bullet should enter
my brain, let it destroy
every closet door”
- Harvey Milk
4. Milk’s Key Accomplishments
Aligning Milk’s Core
Values to his Actions:
• Respect for universal
human rights
• Equality
• Collaboration
• Empathy
• Perserverance
• Sponsored country’s most stringent and
encompassing bill outlawing sexual orientation
discrimination
• Defeated Briggs Initiative, which mandated
firing of gay teachers in California public
schools
• “Pooper Scooper law” – required dog owners
to scoop pets’ feces
• Increased number of LGBT police officers
• Began programs benefitting workers,
minorities, and elderly
5. Milk’s Four-Way Wins
Before Politics After Politics
Home
Work
Community
By entering Politics, Milk’s work had direct relevance and
impact on all four domains of his life
Self
Real Whole Innovative
6. Lessons Learned
Passion
to pursue what
you believe in
Courage
to maintain your
core values,
despite others
who might
disagree and
react with
hostility
Commitment and
Resilience
to keep trying
despite obstacles
and failures
Significant and immediate impact on his community, his work,
and his home and self
7. “If I turned around every time somebody called me a
faggot, I'd be walking backward - and I don't want to
walk backward.” Harvey Milk, 1977
Harvey Milk and George Moscone, Mayor of San Francisco
Both assassinated Nov. 27, 1978
