US: White House gathering officially launches Harvey Milk stamps
A gathering took place at the White House on Thursday to officially launch a range of stamps featuring late gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
Members of Milk’s family, admirers and political leaders were present at the gathering to honour Milk on what would have been his 84th birthday.
The “forever” stamp, unveiled by the US post office last month, features an image of Harvey Milk taken in 1977, in front of Castro Street Camera.
Representative John Lewis, a long time member of the civil rights movement, said: “The tiny ripples that began more than 40 years ago began a tidal wave that swept through the Supreme Court and the nation, liberating gay couples in states around the country… So, thank you, Harvey Milk.”
According to Post Office officials, the stamps were “selling briskly”.
Today also marked Harvey Milk Day in California.
Milk was posthumously inducted into the California Hall of Fame after being portrayed by Sean Penn in the film Milk, and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama this year.
Arnold Schwarzenegger denied a request to honour Milk’s birthday in 2008, suggesting honours were better made at the local level for the state supervisor, who was assassinated in 1978,.
Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, winning a post on the Board of Supervisors as a result of changes in the social makeup of San Francisco after three unsuccessful attempts to gain office.
Having finally been elected in 1977, Milk only held his position for 11 months before being assassinated by Dan White, a former colleague who had lost his position in city administration.
Milk has been described as a martyr for gay rights and a visionary. Penn received a best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of Milk.
The White House is to hold a ceremony next month to launch a stamp in honour of the assassinated politician, who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.
