On This Day In Gay History- Harvey Milk Is Murdered

After receiving death threats, Milk said: "If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door."



On Nov. 27, 1978, Harvey Milk was shot twice in the head by conservative & disgruntled supervisor Daniel White. Mayor George Moscone was also killed. White confessed to his crime, but was only given 5 years in prison plus parole. His lawyers argued that junk food caused his depression. That argument, dubbed the Twinkie defense, was later banned.

Milk's death made him a gay martyr. His supervisor seat was given to openly-gay politician Harry Britt. A year after Milk's death 100,000 people demonstrated for gay rights in Washington D.C. chanting "Harvey Milk Lives." He was also the inspiration for Cleve Jones' AIDS quilt & his bravery help spur on the modern day gay rights movement. Today, many gay social institutions are named after Harvey Milk, including The Harvey Milk School in NYC. In 2009, the State of California named Milk's birthday, May 22, Harvey Milk Day. Conservative Christians remain outraged.