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Forgotten Milk?
The SF LGBT Pride team received a provocative email from Daniel Nicoletta, co-chair for Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee on the 27th anniversary of Harvey Milk’s assassination. The email featured a Guest Opinion written by Cleve Jones for the BAR revealing what I suspect the Queer Community (at large) fears. Jones writes, “According to a recent study conducted by the One Institute, only about 15 percent of American students entering college know of Harvey Milk and his role in what was once called the gay liberation movement. LGBT youth, like their hetero counterparts, aren't learning much history these days. Queer and straight kids alike increasingly know little of their heritage, their own individual family histories, let alone the broader histories of their communities and nation.” It is the mission of the SF LGBT Celebration Committee to “…educate the World, commemorate our heritage, celebrate our culture, and liberate our people.” As an organization with a commitment to education and historical preservation of our queer history, we had decided to act as fiscal sponsors for the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee. As subscribers to our eNewsletter, we extend a golden opportunity to you – to preserve the history and political strides that Harvey Milk was able to accomplished in his shortened life time.As Jones goes on to write of the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee, “In June just before the Pride Parade, the memorial committee received a challenge grant of $25,000 from the Bob Ross Foundation. The foundation hoped that the grant would inspire some of our city's many generous donors to step forward and support this worthwhile effort. So far it hasn't happened.” The SF Pride Team puts a tough question to our community, Why Not!?. Nicoletta comments regarding this project, “…there have also been hundreds of you who have helped with donations, in-kind services and emotional support and volunteerism... and I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you on behalf of our committee... If you gave in 03 or 04, would you please consider helping us again is 05? We are $55,000.00 short of our $90,000.00 goal. … - any amount you donate up to 25,000.00 will be matched by the Bob Ross Foundation. Please give today. This is a great opportunity for that end of year tax break too....” How to make the bronze sculpture of Harvey Milk for City Hall happen … let your love of preserving your own history help you make the decision to donate your time and/or money! Please contact the Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee today – visit their website at milkmemorial.org. Our own civil rights have been an uphill battle that are not yet fully realized, let’s make one thing certain – that we will not be forgotten, over looked or trodden upon, help today! Help get Harvey back at City Hall where he was taken before his time! The Harvey Milk City Hall Memorial Committee is a 501(c)3 organization, all donations are tax deductible. Checks can be made out and mailed to: SF Pride/Milk Memorial, 1800 Market Street, Box 42, San Francisco, CA 94102. For information, to volunteer, or to make an online donation visit milkmemorial.org.
To see Cleve Jones’ Guest Opinion in full, please visit:
http://www.ebar.com/openforum/opforum.php?sec=guest_op&id=23 |
