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Harvey Milk ■ You’ve Got to Have Hope 125

no important positions of employment. Leadership was called for and where were
A tenth of the nation composed solely of the other candidates?
© Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.
stereotypes and would-be seducers of small Well, no announcement for candidacy for 35 IDEAS IN AMERICAN CULTURE
children — and no offense intended to the public office can avoid overuse of the word “I”
stereotypes. and I’m as guilty as anyone. And now it’s time
Well, the Black community is not judged to tell you why I’ve run so persistently for pub-
by its “friends” but by its black legislators lic office.
and leaders. We must give people outside our I’ll never forget what it was like coming out.
community the chance to judge us by our Gay I’ll never forget the looks on the faces of
legislators and leaders. A gay person in office those who have lost hope, whether it be young
can set a tone, can command respect not only Gays or seniors of Blacks looking for that
from that larger community but from young almost-impossible-to-find job or Latins trying
people in our own community who need both to explain their problems and aspirations in a
examples and . . . hope. tongue that’s foreign to them.
The first Gay person we elect must be 30 I’ll never forget that people are more
strong, a fighter, one who is not content to important than buildings and neighborhoods
sit in the back of the bus. He must be above more important than freeways.
wheeling and dealing. If I had been a wheeler I’ve deliberately scheduled this announce-
and dealers, I would be on the Board of Permit ment for Gay Pride Week. I’ve watched a mil-
Appeals today. . . . The first Gay person to be lion people close their closet doors behind
elected must for the good of all of us, be truly them and I know they cannot go back.
independent. Unbossed and unbought! . . . I use the word “I” because I’m proud of 40
I think, perhaps, that too many of our elected myself.
and appointed leaders forget that their first I stand here before you tonight because I’m
duty is to lead. And the only way to lead is by proud of you.
example. I disapprove of almost everything that I’ve planned for some time to walk in the
Joe Alioto stood for but I would never deny that march on Sunday because I’m proud of my
he was a leader, that he understood the power sisters and brothers.
of a public office and how to use it to lead. And I’m running for public office because
And so hid Our appointed Gay leaders. They I think it’s time we’ve had a legislator who
did not lead. . . . was gay and proud of that fact and one who
. . . It took a group of concerned Gay people will not walk away from the responsibilities
to put out a statement warning of outsiders that face such a legislator. I walked among
starting trouble in the Gay community. It was the angry and frustrated after Dade country
a heavy statement — but if you were there you [sic]. . . . I walked among the angry and sad
know it was a necessary one. No other Gay gay sisters and brothers last night at City
candidate signed it. I took a strong position Hall and late last night as they lit candles
about the tone of the parade this coming Sun- and stood in silence on Castro Street reach-
day. I made enemies. But I felt it had to be said ing out for some symbolic thing that would
and since our gay appointed leaders said noth- give them hope. . . .
ing, I did. And without the power and office Hope for a better world.
behind me like others have. Hope for a better tomorrow. 45

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