Long Beach architect Brian Ulasszewski has a thoughtful piece on naming a street after slain gay-rights activist Harvey Milk in today's Long Beach Post.
Here's a sample from the article:
Without attempting to present the final word, but simply initiate a discussion, I propose we honor San Francisco's first openly gay Supervisor, Harvey Milk. As one of the most chronicled faces within the LGBT movement, Milk remains a relevant icon even today.
Read the rest at http://www.lbpost.com/brian/5880
I think LB should name a street after Harvey Milk...Actually, I think he deserves a school to be named after him!!!
NO
Did he have ties to Long Beach? If not, then no. So what if LB has a large gay community. Are we going to start naming streets after all gay activists? Are we then going to have Perez Place? Let San Fransicso name a street/school after Mr. Milk.
And, no. I am not homophobic. I just do not think this is necessary.
Hell no!! Nobody would've ever heard of this dead homosexual had he not been murdered by Dan White. He did nothing for anybody and has no connection to the city of Long Beach.
But leave it to the fellating City Council to once again roll over like trained pigs and capitulate to the sodomites.
I was from the mid-south, 23 and not out when Harvey Milk was assassinated. I remember the media coverage of gays in San Francisco at the time and of his death. I was saddened and lost a little hope and connection to a place where it seemed likely there were others like me. To me he is a civil rights leader in much the same way as MLK and Chavez - examples of people unafraid, perhaps proud, to take a stand for recognition of basic rights for their entire class of people. So yes, I think it would be appropriate to name a street or park after him, especially in our multicultural town where we have MLK Blvd, Cambodia Town, Billie Jean King Tennis Center, Cesar Chavez Park/School and others.