Guide Note

Harvey Milk, the self-described "Mayor of Castro Street," was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. Milk was appointed San Francisco's City Supervisor in 1977.

Milk, along with then Mayor George Moscone, was assassinated on November 27, 1978 by the recently-resigned City Supervisor Dan White.¹

Milk's political life is the subject of Gus Van Sant's 2008 film Milk starring actor Sean Penn as Milk.

Fast Facts

1. Born: May 22, 1930
2. Assassinated: November 27, 1978
3. Birthplace: Woodmere, New York
4. Political party: Democrat
5. Religion: Jewish
6. Alma mater: University of Albany
7. In office: January 8, 1978 - November 27, 1978
8. Biography: The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts
9. Documentary: The Times of Harvey Milk
10. Biographical film projects: Milk directed by Gus Van Sant, The Mayor of Castro Street directed by Bryan Singer

"Hope will never be silent."²

"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door."¹

"All over the country, they're reading about me, and the story doesn't center on me being gay. It's just about a gay person who is doing his job."¹

"More people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, my friends, that is true perversion."²

Milk Movie | San Francisco | Sean Penn | Gus Van Sant | Activism | San Francisco | Milk Trailer