“It is a reminder of the shoulders of whom we stand on…As someone who was a personal friend of Harvey’s, I know he’d also be proud of such an event, as he was about building bridges and uniting communities.
year. More than 950 people attended the breakfast last year, and less than 100 tickets remain for this year’s 1,000-seat venue at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. “Members from all walks of life, including the other
minority communities that have fought for equal rights come together to fill this room with an outpouring of support for the LGBT community. This is very moving and something I’m very proud to witness and be a part of,” said Murray-Ramirez, who is no longer chair of the Human Relations Commission, yet continues to co-chair the breakfast along with Gleason. “It is a reminder of the shoulders of whom we stand on,” he said adding, “As someone who was a personal friend of Harvey’s, I know he’d also be proud of such an event, as he was about building bridges and uniting communities.” The focus of this year’s breakfast highlights: LGBT
youth should not have to suffer through bullying at school. In the past year, the nation witnessed a signifi- cant rise in suicides among school-age youth—many a result of bullying from peers. The increase sparked the “It Gets Better Project” to offer hope to victims of bullying. Shortly before his assassination occurrence only
eleven months after taking office—which took place along with that of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone on November 27, 1978 — Milk gave his most recognized speech, “You Cannot Live On Hope Alone.”
HIS WORDS RESONATE PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT SUICIDES: “Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio there is a
young gay person who all the sudden realizes that he or she is gay; knows that if their parents find out they will be tossed out of the house, their classmates will taunt the child… . And then one day that child might open the paper that says ‘Homosexual elected in San Francisco’ and there are two new options: the option is to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight… You’ve got to elect gay people, so that thousand upon thousands like that child know that there is hope for a better world; there is hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but those who are Blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us’s; without hope the us’s give up. I know that you can’t live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope.” Although Harvey Milk did not live to see his dreams fulfilled, through the example of his life and leadership, he’s become an important national symbol for the struggle for human rights. The FAIR Act, which passed out of the Senate Judicary Committee on April 5 by a vote of 3-2, underscores the influence Milk continues to
have on the current fight for equality. A natural extension of the statewide celebration of Harvey Milk Day, the bill will include LGBT history and contributions into middle and high school California history classes throughout the state. Introducing the legislation, Senator Mark Leno said he hopes to educate all students, regardless of their sexual orientation, about the civil rights movement of the gay community. “Such an education will increase school safety and decrease bullying to create a more welcoming environment for gay youth in schools,” Leno said. Following the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast’s focus
on LGBT bullying this year, The Harvey Milk Equality Award will be presented to Cheryl Kilodavis, author of My Princess Boy. The book is a compassionate and empathetic tale of a mother and her 4-year-old son who enjoys dressing as a princess. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and his daughter
‘IMAGINE...‘
Lisa are again set to emcee the 2011 Harvey Milk Diver- sity Breakfast. “Many notable dignitaries, politicians and community members will be in attendance, including Harvey Milk’s nephew and human rights campaigner Stuart Milk,” concluded Murray-Ramirez, who now sits as the The Harvey Milk Foundation International Com- mittee chair. Stuart along with Harvey Milk’s campaign manager/aide, Anne Kronenberg, recently founded The Harvey Milk Foundation, which builds upon Milk’s philosophy, “Hope will never be silent.”
”
you.” The immortal words of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay official elected to public office, reflect the late civil rights leader’s drive for community involve- ment. Milk’s legacy lives on—his story of unrelenting hope inspires people to get involved still today. Utiliz- ing Milk’s message of hope for dreams to one day be realized, the North County LGBT Coalition is taking the lead launching a countywide campaign to support the creation of a North County LGBT Community Center. “Making this dream come true requires people and
an important financial commitment from all of us,” the Coalition urges, noting it needs everybody’s help. To that extent, the group will celebrate Harvey Milk Day with the fundraiser “Imagine...” The event organizers are asking the community to simply, “Imagine the dream of a North County LGBTQ Resource Center coming true.” This vision describes a place for everyone to join
together. ...A place where our LGBT youth can safely express who they are while their parents can also find the answers they need. ...A Community Resource Center, that informs and educates about respect, inclusiveness and acceptance, and where social ser- vices, support groups and arts are offered to everyone. This reflects Milk’s 1978 speech “You Can’t Live on Hope Alone” in which he stated, “Without hope, not
The San Diego Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast Coalition hosts the 2011 Annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast on Friday, May 20, at 7:30 a.m. at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to
harveymilkdiversitybreakfast.org.
- Nicole Murray-Ramirez
NORTH COUNTY LGBT COALITION CELEBRATES HARVEY MILK DAY WITH A FUNDRAISER “My name is Harvey Milk and I am here to recruit
only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us’s: without hope the us’s give up. I know that you can’t live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope.” The fundraiser is taking place at the Oceanside
Museum of Art, at 704 Pier View Way in Oceanside, on Friday, May 20, at 6 p.m. It includes a silent auction documentary screening and entertainment, along with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Tickets for the event are $30 each. Sponsorships are also available for $100, $500 and $1,000. To help the dream of a North County LGBTQ Resource Center come true or to learn more about the fundraiser, call 760.672.1848 or visit
northcountycoalition.org.
MAY 2011 | RAGE monthly 15
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