Harvey Milk

Leadership Biography

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

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

197

2 -

1978

“If a bullet should enter my brain, let it destroy every closet

door”- Harvey Milk

Milk’s Key AccomplishmentsAligning 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

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

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

“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 FranciscoBoth assassinated Nov. 27, 1978