Overview

• Harvey Milk Day, observed annually on May 22, commemorates the life and legacy of California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, who was assassinated in 1978.
• San Francisco marked Milk’s 95th birthday with speeches and events led by activists, including his nephew Stuart Milk, who continues his uncle’s advocacy through the Harvey Milk Foundation.
• The Harvey Milk Foundation is intensifying global efforts to combat the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in countries like Hungary, Italy, and parts of Africa.
• Milk’s recorded message urging LGBTQ+ individuals to come out remains a rallying cry for visibility as a strategy to fight discrimination and prejudice.
• The day blends celebration of progress, such as marriage equality gains, with calls for action against ongoing challenges, including attacks on transgender rights and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation worldwide.