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Stuart Milk

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Stuart Milk
Stuart Milk and Barack Obama
Accepting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in August 2009 on behalf of his uncle
Born(1960-12-26)December 26, 1960
New York
CitizenshipUnited States
Occupation(s)US (LGBT) human rights activist and speaker
OrganizationHarvey Milk Foundation
RelativesHarvey Milk
AwardsMuestra T (cultural and authenticity), Spain; Champion Award, Equality California; Hacham and Hachamat Lev Award, Keshet/Jewish Mosiac; Medal of Turin, Italy; Jose Saria International Human Rights Award, International Court System Youth Advocate of the Year; Cross Atlantic Congress Netherlands

Stuart Milk (born December 26, 1960) is a global 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] Milk's activism and work has been both domestic and international, such as his support of LGBT movements in Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.[2][3][4] Stuart Milk has taken on his uncles legacy and message into global diplomacy being one of the first Human Rights advocates to address, on multiple continents, LGBT rights in formal major addresses, including the United Kingdom House of Lords in 2012, the Italian Chamber of Deputies in 2011, the Panamanian National Assembly in 2010, and Turkish Great Assembly in 2009. [5]

Biography

Stuart Milk has worked in public service since the late 1980s in both the public and private sector, primarily on workforce issues pertaining to youth and disadvantaged populations in the US and abroad.[6] In addition to his human service work, he has been a public speaker on LGBT rights at colleges, universities and public events including for Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, University of San Francisco, SUNY, Central European University, University of Oxford, University of San Diego, as lead speaker or grand marshal for numerous LGBT Pride parades including San Francisco and Orlando in 2008, Istanbul and Madrid in 2009, Boston and San Diego in 2010, Pittsburgh and Budapest in 2011.[7] He has provided keynote addresses at political conventions, including both the California Democratic Convention and Florida statewide conventions in 2009 and 2010.[8]

In addition to his role as Milk family spokesperson, Stuart has been working to share his late uncle's story at international, national and state levels.[9] He has successfully advocated for recognition for his late uncle in 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 international Harvey Milk Foundation; and the development of several new LGBT centers named after Harvey in foreign nations.[10][11]

Early Life and Impact of His Uncle, Harvey Milk

As reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, the 1978 assassination of his 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, stated 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 that year, 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.[12]

"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 work in public service, "with youths, the elderly, dislocated workers and former prison inmates, as part of his family’s legacy."[13] 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.[14]

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.[15]

Current Work and Activism

Producers, director and screenwriter of "Milk" with Stuart
(l. to r.) The two Milk producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, Stuart, director Gus Van Sant and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. Photo credit: Strange de Jim

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.[16][17][18]

Stuart Milk has travelled to a broad range of foreign nations advocating for human rights inclusive of the LGBT community while working collaboratively with other diminished and marginalized populations.[19] Stuart's speaking events in the last few years have included LGBT public speeches in the Islamic cities of Istanbul, Ankara, and Cairo to public events in Central and Eastern Europe, Central American and South American cities, as well activities in Asia and the Pacific Rim.[20][21] Milk has been a delegate on official sister city visitations or state visits to Sydney Australia, Panama City Panama, and to Cape Town South Africa and has twice given keynote addresses for International Congresses in the Netherlands. Stuart stated in 2010 that he has a 'goal to keep his uncle's legacy alive providing support for still relevant messages by those who Harvey knew and trusted beyond often limited snap shots of time". Efforts by Stuart Milk to have the first US Postage named for an LGBT person have made news, "The Harvey Milk US Postage Stamp Campaign" is said to "further on a broader scale the educational pieces of Harvey Milk's legacy created by the family" along with a number of collaborating national LGBT organizations including the ICS, EQCA, NLGTF, HRC, Victory Fund, Trevor and GLAAD [22]

Stuart Milk was credited in working to get 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 California 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.[23][24]

Following a meeting with Milk during his 2011 'Human Rights Tour" for Equality Italia, Italy's Minister of Equal Opportunities, Mara Carafagna stated "Milk is a leader who is able to change my mind". After the meeting, she 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".[25]

Milk helped develop a 2011 professional International Conference for youth educators working along with the Center For Excellence in School Counseling at San Diego State University. Senior Federal Government officials, including the US Department Education (Assistant Secretary), were brought together with local stakeholders from across the globe - San Diego Mayor Sanders, school superintendents, faculty, counselors, and parent/student advocates - to define and dissect time proven best practices to support LGBT youth while in school creating "a climate of change that should save young lives" per the coverage of this San Diego event.[26] Milk is also involved with a Global LGBT Transitions and Interchange Congress being presented in early 2012 with the support of EU officials and the European private sector.

Harvey Milk Day (HMD) activities continue to be facilitated annually by Harvey Milk Foundation with the launch in 2011 of the Harvey Milk Day portal and website and a team of volunteers to "establish, encourage, and lead HMD day events, activities and proclamations in more than one thousand jurisdictions across the globe." With that accomplished in May 2011, further planning for 2012 has begun by Milk and other Milk Foundation leaders. The Associated Press reported in 2010: "Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's 49-year-old nephew and one of the guardians of his legacy, thinks his uncle would be thrilled by the various tributes, but he also wants his day to be more about uniting all marginalized minorities."[27]

Portrayals

Portrayals of Stuart Milk have included his characterization in the 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 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 actor Chad Allen in the Spring 2010 Sacramento California production.[28][29]

Honors and Awards

Milk has been the recipient of international and national awards for his global civil rights work including Spain's Annual Muestra T (cultural authenticity) in 2008, Keshet/Jewish Mosiac's Hacham and Hachamat Lev Award in 2010, the Jose Saria International Human Rights Award from the International Court in 2007, the Equality Champion of the Year Award from Equality California in 2009, and was the 2011 recipient of the Medal of Turin.[30][31][32][33][34]

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. ^ Cassell, Heather. "Stuart Milk and LGBT Leaders Address House of Lord". ebar. Retrieved 29 Aug 2012.
  6. ^ Nolte, Carl (November 26, 2003). "City Hall Slayings/25 Years Later". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  7. ^ Murphy, Patrick. "Inclusion, Not Tolerance Insists Stuart Milk". San Francisco Sentinel. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  8. ^ Palermo, Joseph (28 April 2009). "From the California Democratic Convention". Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  9. ^ Ocamb, Karen (May 21, 2010). "Harvey Milk Day - Stuart Milk and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez Talk". Bilerico. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  10. ^ Magenta, Rob (May 19, 2011). "Nephew of San Francisco icon Harvey Milk lights up Rome". Topix. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  11. ^ Gergely, Túry (18 June 2011). "Felbőszültek a kopaszok, közbeléptek a rendőrök a melegfelvonuláson". Hirszerzo (Hungary). Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  12. ^ May, Meredith (November 23, 2003). "CITY HALL SLAYINGS: 25 Years Later". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  13. ^ Chan, Sewell (February 20, 2009). "Film Evokes Memories for Milk's Relatives". New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  14. ^ Eckherd, Donald. "Unpublished Family Photos of Harvey Milk". Uncle Donald's Harvey Milk Pages. thecastro.net. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  15. ^ 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)
  16. ^ Moss, Phillip. "AFER Advisory Board". American Foundation for Equal Rights. AFER. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  17. ^ California, Equality. "Board of Directors". Equality California. EQCA. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  18. ^ CWS. "CWS Governance". Coalition for Workforce Solutions. people2work.org. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  19. ^ Daley, Lauren (2 June 2011). "On The Record With Stuart Milk". The City Paper. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  20. ^ Saaran, Michael (15 June 2011). "Harvey Milk Foundation Joins With Hungary for Budapest Pride". The Edge. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  21. ^ Belgradan, Arany (18 june 2011). "TV 3 Budapest Nightly Report". RTL Hungary. Retrieved 23 June 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Gaffney, Michael. "HARVEY MILK NATIONAL STAMP CAMPAIGN". 22 May 2009. International Court System. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  23. ^ Ocamb, Karen. "Harvey Milk Inducted Into Hall of Fame; Stuart Milk Interview". LGBT|POV. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  24. ^ 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)
  25. ^ Fabrizo, Paola (May 5, 2011). "Elegant, Emozionata La Carfagna e Stuart Milk". Gaynews24. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  26. ^ Ramirez, Nicole (3 March 2011). "Educators, Politicians Join Forces". LGBT Weekly. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  27. ^ Leff, Lisa (22 May 2011). "California, other states observe first Harvey Milk Day to honor gay rights icon". FoxNews.com. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  28. ^ Rubio-Sheffrey, Esther (July 5, 2010). "Dear Harvey". San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  29. ^ Spindle, Les (September 22, 2010). "Dear Harvey at the Lee Strasberg Theatre". Back Stage. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  30. ^ RAFAEL, PATRICIA. "España lidera los derechos de los homosexuales". Publico. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  31. ^ Braatz, Rick. "Annual awards ceremony honors GLBT civil rights advocates". GayLesbianTimes. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  32. ^ Kunerth, Jeff. "Gay Rights Pioneer Milk's Nephew Leads Parade". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  33. ^ Gordon, Rachael. "Harvey Milk's Nephew Blazes His Own Trail". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  34. ^ Bond, Meri (March 15, 2010). "Cabaret...Keshet Style". Bay Windows. Retrieved 14 June 2011.


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