Milk - Gus van Sant’s biopic about Harvey Milk Premiered this Week

October 30, 2008 by James Lovette-Black
Filed under: activism, art, gay culture, men's health, spirituality, video

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Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official in San Francisco’s history, elected as a Supervisor in 1977 (similar to being on a city’s governing Council, except San Francisco is a City and County entity in California). He was assassinated in 1978 by another Supervisor, Dan White, in a shocking and brazen murder, at the same time that then Mayor San Francisco, George Moscone, who was known as an openly liberal and gay-affirming leader. The film premiered this week at the famous Castro Theatre, in an opening right out of Hollywood.

Castro Theatre Premiere of Milk by Gus van Sant

Gus van Sant, the brilliant film director, spent much of 2008 filming his new biopic, Milk, in San Francisco. I had the privilege of witnessing much of the filming, since it was located in the Castro, the City’s legendary gay district.

Here is the trailer for the new flick, which will premier at the Castro Theatre later this year. Let us remember Harvey for his courage during a time of horrific repression and brutality for all gay people. He led the way for all of us into a more inclusive civil society. We remember him for being a man of ethics, vision, and inclusive values: one of the first San Francisco values leaders.