Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man elected to public office in the United States in 1977 as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. At 47, he had a rich history of activism, previously serving in the U.S. Navy. After moving to the Castro neighborhood in 1972 and engaging in various public office campaigns, he successfully won a seat with a focus on LGBTQ+ rights and housing issues. Milk fought against discriminatory legislation, campaigning against the Briggs Initiative and helping to enact an anti-discrimination law. He commissioned the rainbow flag, unveiled at San Francisco Pride in 1978, symbolizing LGBTQ+ pride and identity.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in the United States, winning a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.
In his efforts for LGBTQ+ rights, Milk successfully campaigned against the Briggs Initiative, a proposal aimed at banning gay men and lesbians from working in public schools.
Milk commissioned Gilbert Baker to create the rainbow flag, which became a symbol representing the LGBTQ+ community, first displayed at San Francisco Pride in 1978.
Milk's activism emphasized public visibility and recognition for LGBTQ+ individuals, making him a pivotal figure in the history of civil rights for that community.
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