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Stuart Milk

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Stuart Milk
Accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama on August 12, 2009 at the White House on behalf of his uncle
Born1960
New York
OccupationUS (LGBT) activist

Stuart Milk (born December 26, 1960) is an American LGBT human rights activist and political speaker. Stuart, nephew of the late Civil Rights pioneer Harvey Milk, is the co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation.[1] A substantial amount of Milk's activism and work has been on a global scale, including his support of LGBT movements in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.[2][3] [4]

Biography

Stuart Milk has worked as a leader in public service since the late 80's in both the public and private sector primarily on workforce issues pertaining to youth and disadvantaged populations in the US and abroad.[5] In addition to his full time human service work, he has been a prominent speaker on LGBT rights at Colleges, Universities and public events including as a keynote panelist for Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, as a the lead speaker or Grand Marshal for numerous LGBT Pride Parades including San Francisco in 2007, Madrid in 2008, Orlando and Boston in 2009, San Diego in 2010, Pittsburgh in 2011.[6] He has provided keynote addresses at Political Conventions including both the California Democratic Convention and Florida statewide conventions in 2009 and 2010.[7]

In addition to his decades long role as Milk family spokesperson, Stuart has been active in shepherding and growing his late uncle's legacy at the international, national and state level.[8] His achievements in recognition for his late uncle include the now annual state holiday, Harvey Milk Recognition Day, in California; the induction of his uncle into the California Hall of Fame; accepting the United States' highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on behalf of his uncle from President Obama; co-Founding the global Harvey Milk Foundation; and the obtainment of several new LGBT centers named after Harvey in foreign nations.[9]

Early Life and Impact of His Uncle, Harvey Milk

The 1978 assassination of his famous uncle destroyed the "closet door" for Stuart Milk. Milk, who has participated and represented Harvey Milk's small immediate family in memorial and remembrance events for over three decades, told the San Francisco Chronicle at the 20th year memorial for Harvey, that he decided to be vocally out, right after his uncle's murder, as a living and active memorial. "Earlier (in 78), Harvey and I had a three-hour talk at a family gathering, he talked to me about being your authentic self. I was just a teenager, but it stayed with me," said Stuart Milk.[10]

"When I think about Harvey, I think about, even as a small child, the kind of the richness and color of life that he brought to me. Harvey was the person who introduced me to Broadway, and Broadway musicals", Stuart said in 2009 referring to his closeness with his uncle. Stuart Milk has been involved in public service since the late 80's including directing employment assistance centers and youth enrichment programs. He told the New York Times that he sees his decades of work in public service, "with youths, the elderly, dislocated workers and former prison inmates, as part of his family’s legacy."[11] In 1999, Stuart Milk made available to the public several never before seen photos of his uncle's early campaign for elected office and as well as personal family pictures. [12]

In 1985, Stuart Milk gave his first large public address as an "out" LGBT activist alongside The Times of Harvey Milk producer Richard Smiechen at Oberlin College in Ohio. At the time Milk was working as a campaign director for National Citizen Action, a progressive political advocacy organization and was based in Western Pennsylvania.[13]

Current Work and Activism

In addition to being the President of the Harvey Milk Foundation's Board of Directors, Stuart also sits as a director on boards and advisory boards of numerous human rights, LGBT rights and Youth advocacy organizations including the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), Equality California, International Conference on Disadvantaged Youth, the Coalition for Workforce Solutions, and the International Committee for Minority Justice and Equality.[14][15] [16]

Stuart Milk was instrumental in getting legislation signed creating an annual California State Day of Recognition named after his late uncle in 2009 earning him Equality California's Champion Award that year. In 2010 he worked with then CA First Lady Maria Shriver in designing the first public museum exhibit on Harvey Milk in Sacramento and he accepted his Uncle's medal and induction into the California Hall of Fame from the Governor.[17] [18]

Portrayals

Portrayals of Stuart Milk have included his major characterization in the award winning play, Dear Harvey, by Patricia Loughery that was partly based on Loughery's interviews and discussions with Stuart. The play has been performed at the the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, at New York City's Fringe Festival and at colleges and universities across the United States. Dear Harvey has been translated into Spanish for production in Mexico and Spain while Stuart Milk's character was performed by the renown award nominated actor Chad Allen, in the Spring 2010 Sacramento California production'.[19] [20]

Public Recognition

International as well Unites States political leaders have recognized the work of Stuart Milk in continuing his uncle's legacy of collaboration and coalition building. United States Speaker of the House of Representatives and current Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi said, "“Today, Harvey Milk’s work continues – through the efforts of his nephew, Stuart Milk, and the Harvey Milk Foundation" in her 2010 statement and press release on the Statewide Harvey Milk Day holiday.[21]Italy's Minister of Equal Opportunities, Mara Carafagna stated "Milk is a leader who is able to change my mind", when she met with Stuart during his 2011 'Equality Tour" and as a result publicly reversed her opposition to a proposed anti-homophobia law saying "I now see it is important for my government to protect against homophobia and create gay friendly workplaces". [22]

Honors and Awards

Milk is the recipient of international and national awards for his global civil rights work including Spain's annual Muestra T (cultural and authenticity) in 2008, Keshet/Jewish Mosiac's Hacham and Hachamat Lev Award in 2009, the Jose Saria International Human Rights Award from the International Court in 2007 and was the 2011 recipient of the Medal of Turin.[23][24] [25] [26] [27]

References

  1. ^ "Harvey Milk Foundation - About Us". Harvey Milk Foundation. Retrieved March, 30 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ Pasquali, Valentina. "Harvey Milk's nephew, Stuart, helps Turkey's gays break through the barricades". Miami Herald. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  3. ^ Banfi, Andrea. "Stuart Milk Brings Uncle's Message of Hope and Inclusion to Seven Italian Cities". San Diego LGBT Weekly. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  4. ^ School, Kennedy. "Harvard Human Rights Panel". Harvard University. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  5. ^ Nolte, Carl (November 26, 2003). "City Hall Slayings/25 Years Later". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  6. ^ Murphy, Patrick. "Inclusion, Not Tolerance Insists Stuart Milk". San Francisco Sentinel. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  7. ^ Palermo, Joseph. "From the California Democratic Convention". Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  8. ^ Ocamb, Karen (May 21, 2010). "Harvey Milk Day - Stuart Milk and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez Talk". Bilerico. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  9. ^ Magenta, Rob (May 19, 2011). "Nephew of San Francisco icon Harvey Milk lights up Rome". Topix. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  10. ^ May, Meredith (November 23, 2003). "CITY HALL SLAYINGS: 25 Years Later". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  11. ^ Chan, Sewell (February 20, 2009). "Film Evokes Memories for Milk's Relatives". New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  12. ^ Eckherd, Donald. "Unpublished Family Photos of Harvey Milk". Uncle Donald's Harvey Milk Pages. thecastro.net. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  13. ^ Feldman, Jacqueline (June 1, 2010). "Harvey Milk's nephew to kick off Pride Rally Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11152/1150423-51-0.stm#ixzz1P7L9BH1S". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 13 June 2011. {{cite news}}: External link in |title= (help)
  14. ^ Moss, Phillip. "AFER Advisory Board". American Foundation for Equal Rights. AFER. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  15. ^ California, Equality. "Board of Directors". Equality California. EQCA. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  16. ^ CWS. "CWS Governance". Coaliton for Workforce Solutions. people2work.org. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  17. ^ Ocamb, Karen. "Harvey Milk Inducted Into Hall of Fame; Stuart Milk Interview". LGBT|POV. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  18. ^ Leff, Lisa (May 22. 2010). "Activist Harvey Milk Honored And Celebrated In California". Associated Press (AP). Retrieved 14 June 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ Rubio-Sheffrey, Esther (July 5, 2010). ""Dear Harvey"". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  20. ^ Spindle, Les (September 22, 2010). "Dear Harvey at the Lee Strasberg Theatre". Back Stage. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  21. ^ Pelosi, Nancy (May 20, 2010). "Pelosi Statement on Harvey Milk Day". The Hill. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  22. ^ Fabrizo, Paola (May 5, 2011). "Elegant, Emozionata La Carfagna e Stuart Milk". Gaynews24. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  23. ^ RAFAEL, PATRICIA. "España lidera los derechos de los homosexuales". Publico. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  24. ^ Braatz, Rick. "Annual awards ceremony honors GLBT civil rights advocates". GayLesbianTimes. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  25. ^ Kunerth, Jeff. "Gay Rights Pioneer Milk's Nephew Leads Parade". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  26. ^ Gordon, Rachael. "Harvey Milk's Nephew Blazes His Own Trail". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  27. ^ Bond, Meri (March 15 2010). "Cabaret...Keshet Style". Bay Windows. Retrieved 14 June 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)


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