BY CANDY PARKER
Lesbian.com
The official first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Harvey Milk “Forever” stamp will take place at the White House on May 22. The date is also celebrated as Harvey Milk Day in California.
Milk was a visionary leader 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. Milk’s achievements gave hope and confidence to the LGBT community at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility and discrimination. Milk believed that government should represent all citizens, ensuring equality and providing needed services.
Milk’s life and career were cut short on November 27, 1978, when he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by fellow Board of Supervisors member Dan White.
The stamp image will be previewed at a later date and a public dedication ceremony will take place in San Francisco May 28. Milk is the first openly LGBT elected official to be featured on a U.S. stamp.