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1. Birthdays of loved ones who've passed are always hard. Does one celebrate their lives or mourn their deaths?

   Most gay activists have come and gone without their names making it into a history book, let alone into biographies, documentaries, biopics, operas, onto posters and t-shirts.

   Those who do remain important not just for their specific achievements, but, above all, for what Harvey crystallized so perfectly, so simply: “You’ve got to give them hope.”

   I’ve been around quite a while now and the list of things that were different, were worse, for LGBTs when I came out in my one-horse Hoosier town, when I first wrote about gays in my college newspaper, would be pretty long.

   And long ago I realized that, though there have been so many advances since then, we never really understood at the time how very far we had to go, how visceral and invincible homohatred was, how deeply it permeated even some of those we thought loved us the most.

   Despite Harvey & Leonard & Elaine Noble & Dave Kopay & Ellen & Elton & “Will & Grace” and name your own tune, I’ve observed one constant across those decades. There is a peculiar mental disconnect that applies to countless gay youth who, despite the growing number of gay celebrities, the growing talk of gay equality issues, to them the world around them is so, forgive the academic speak, “hetero normative,” “hetero imperative” that many think that they’re alone, that those famous gays exist in some kind of parallel universe that they can’t get to. I guarantee you that somewhere this minute there’s a gay kid for whom “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”...or some hip hop construct about loneliness and longing...is the secret soundtrack of his or her life.

   And so, when the cheers for the latest legislative victory die down, after the last circuit party song plays, after the street sweepers have moved in to clean up Pride parades detritus, after we have danced yet again into dawn, we awake to read of another child killing themselves simply for being called gay.

   What would Harvey say about that 31 years after his murder? Can't you just hear the disbelief and rage in his voice? About all those who, despite his plea, remain in the closet in the best of times for gays ever? About how few have responded to his second plea: Fight!

   What would he say to those whose Battle Hymn is “Kumbaya”? To those who confuse standing silently with candles with lighting the fire of change? To those who are content with, celebrate, crumbs from the White House table?

   Once upon a time there was a man named Harvey Milk. He stood upon the shoulders of those who had gone before; and others since have stood upon his, and all their stories must be remembered and retold again and again, for that kid in Altoona, Pennsylvania, or the one next door no one would ever suspect.

   We can’t bring him back but we can resurrect his passion, and, when necessary, his anger in the face of those who would nakedly deny us our equality or even suggest that it is negotiable; in the presence of those who insult us, and the memory of all of our own who’ve gone before, with meaningless promises, cellophane statements of “support,” inertia, inaction, and entreaties to “wait.”

   Dan White may have pulled the trigger, but WE kill Harvey all over again whenever we let anyone get away with continuing to treat us as children.

   Dona eis requiem.

   http://www.imeem.com/people/7wA3D5L/music/z1JMGy5b/san-francisco-gay-mens-chorus-dr-kathleen-mcguire-i-shal/

   Posted by: Michael @ LeonardMatlovich.com | May 22, 2009 12:46:58 PM

   
   

2. I've read your comments,Michael, and agree with you, with respect.
   I thought that the speech of Dustin Lance Black at the Oscars was a fitting tribute to Harvey Milk, namely that the words of Harvey reached out to a small town and were heard by one of the lonely and fearful kids out there. What a great monument that is to your life; to have said the magic words that helped another human.
   In recent days I noticed that Derek on YouTube/5Sortastraightguys did something similar in reaching out, telling his story and encouraging other kids who felt depressed and worse. Now he has been taken off the cyber waves. But the tribute of Lance Black rings out; Harvey saved me. Happy birthday Harvey.

   Posted by: Hephaistion | May 22, 2009 1:16:30 PM

   
   

3. Harvey
   It seems he has not updated his blog for long at the famous celebrity and wealthy club 'Richcupids.Com' . His fans are waiting for his new pics and blogs there.

   Posted by: bob | May 23, 2009 1:09:19 PM

   
   

4. Andy had his birthday as well! (15th)

   Posted by: j | May 24, 2009 1:06:22 AM

   
   

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