San Francisco City Supervisor, Murder Victim. Born in Woodmere, New York, Harvey Milk attended Albany State College. Thereafter, he served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged. Openly gay, he moved to San Francisco at the age of 42 and settled in the predominantly gay Castro district, where he opened a camera store. He eventually became involved in local politics, first as a leader among neighborhood business owners and later winning election to the Board of Supervisors. He was popularly referred to as the "Mayor of Castro Street" and was the first openly gay elected official of a large U.S. city. During his tenure as a supervisor, which lasted only 11 months, he sponsored a gay rights bill. His fellow supervisor, Dan White, resigned from the board as a result of his frustration at the meager part-time supervisor salary, which did not allow him to adequately support his family. Changing his mind shortly thereafter, White hoped that Mayor George Moscone would reappoint him to the Board of Supervisors. Moscone declined to do so. White consequently obtained a gun and ammunition and sneaked into City Hall via a basement window. Confronting Moscone in his office, White fired several shots, killing the mayor. He then reloaded and headed for Milk's office, accomplishing the same end. White denied premeditation and was convicted of voluntary manslaughter by claiming diminished capacity (including the famous "Twinkie defense," wherein White's attorneys claimed that chemicals in junk food consumed by White had caused depression). He was sentenced to a mere seven years and eight months in prison. This minimal sentence sparked the "White Night Riots," wherein the gay community protested the inadequate punishment for this heinous crime.
San Francisco City Supervisor, Murder Victim. Born in Woodmere, New York, Harvey Milk attended Albany State College. Thereafter, he served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged. Openly gay, he moved to San Francisco at the age of 42 and settled in the predominantly gay Castro district, where he opened a camera store. He eventually became involved in local politics, first as a leader among neighborhood business owners and later winning election to the Board of Supervisors. He was popularly referred to as the "Mayor of Castro Street" and was the first openly gay elected official of a large U.S. city. During his tenure as a supervisor, which lasted only 11 months, he sponsored a gay rights bill. His fellow supervisor, Dan White, resigned from the board as a result of his frustration at the meager part-time supervisor salary, which did not allow him to adequately support his family. Changing his mind shortly thereafter, White hoped that Mayor George Moscone would reappoint him to the Board of Supervisors. Moscone declined to do so. White consequently obtained a gun and ammunition and sneaked into City Hall via a basement window. Confronting Moscone in his office, White fired several shots, killing the mayor. He then reloaded and headed for Milk's office, accomplishing the same end. White denied premeditation and was convicted of voluntary manslaughter by claiming diminished capacity (including the famous "Twinkie defense," wherein White's attorneys claimed that chemicals in junk food consumed by White had caused depression). He was sentenced to a mere seven years and eight months in prison. This minimal sentence sparked the "White Night Riots," wherein the gay community protested the inadequate punishment for this heinous crime.
Bio by: countedx58
Gravesite Details
He was cremated and his ashes spread over the Pacific Ocean.
Family Members
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