AFA Refuses Donation With Milk Stamp

The Wire reports: 

How much do anti-gay groups hate the new Harvey Milk stamps from the U.S. Postal Service? One organization refused to even open a mailed donation to their cause using one such stamp as postage. Staying true to their announcement that they would boycott all mail with the Milk stamps, the American Family Association toldThe Wire that the organization had mailed back our attempted $5 donation to their anti-gay group unopened. Speaking to The Wire, AFA's Director of Issues Analysis Bryan Fischer said that the very existence of the Harvey Milk stamp was akin to "honoring Jeffrey Dahmer on a postage stamp designed to honor the culinary arts." That's because Fischer and the AFA, citing a line from a biography of Milk, believe that Milk was a sexual predator. "He is not somebody that should ever be honored on a postage stamp," Fischer said.

Maybe the Wire shouldn't have announced the attempt two weeks ago? Focus On The Family and the Family Research Council both processed Milk-stamped donations sent by theWire

American Family Association Tells Members to Send Back All Mail Bearing a Harvey Milk Stamp

The American Family Association is instructing its members to send back all the mail they receive that comes bearing a Harvey Milk stamp, in a comical pearl-clutching alert:

The Harvey Milk stamp was a result of seven years of lobbying by a self-described drag queen (a biological man with implanted breasts) and former transsexual prostitute Nicole Murray Ramirez of San Diego. 

Honoring predator Harvey Milk on a U.S. postage stamp is disturbing to say the least. Harvey Milk was a very disreputable man and used his charm and power to prey on young boys with emotional problems and drug addiction. He is the last person we should be featuring on a stamp. 

Unfortunately, the deed is done. The United States Postal Service honored a child predator at the whim of a drag queen. 

Furthermore, the radical homosexual lobby will undoubtedly encourage businesses to use these stamps - all in the name of inclusiveness, political correctness and diversity. This is not diversity; this is perversity. 

What you can do… 

1. Refuse to accept the Harvey Milk stamp if offered by your local post office. Instead, ask for a stamp of the United States flag. 

2. Refuse to accept mail at your home or business if it is postmarked with the Harvey Milk stamp. Simply write 'Return to Sender" on the envelope and tell your postman you won't accept it.

Harvey Milk Postage Stamp Unveiled at White House

Marriage equality is becoming a reality for all, and a Harvey Milk postage stamp was unveiled in the grandest place in the world. Yeah, things are getting better. Watch HERE.

Harvey Milk SFO Terminal Idea Remains Grounded

San Francisco International Airport was awash in rainbow lights for Pride last year; Mayor Ed Lee has yet to name people to a city panel tasked with choosing a terminal to name after slain supervisor Harvey Milk.  (Source:Courtesy SFO)

The plan to name a terminal at San Francisco International Airport in honor of the city’s first openly gay supervisor, Harvey Milk, remains grounded a year after initially being proposed.

Last spring Mayor Ed Lee and gay District 9 Supervisor David Campos agreed to form an advisory committee that would recommend which of the airport’s four terminals should be named after Milk, who was killed inside City Hall the morning of November 27, 1978 along with then-Mayor George Moscone by disgruntled former supervisor Dan White.

The compromise came after Campos shocked the city in early 2013 with his proposal to rename the entire airport in recognition of Milk. The idea drew widespread criticism, including from within the local LGBT community, and Campos was unable to secure the six votes he needed on the Board of Supervisors to place an amendment to the city’s charter, which refers to the San Francisco Airport, before voters for approval.

Lee, who also publicly questioned the merits of designating SFO after Milk, worked with Campos to broker the deal establishing the Airport Facilities Naming Advisory Committee. The supervisors would select four members and the mayor would appoint five people to the advisory panel.

It not only would be tasked with suggesting either the airport’s international terminal or one of its three domestic terminals be named in Milk’s honor, it could also decide to recommend people to name the other three terminals after.

The supervisors and Lee, however, would have final approval as the board would first vote on naming the terminals and the mayor would sign the decisions into law.

Last May, Campos told the Bay Area Reporter that he hoped the process would be finalized "in a short period of time." Yet Campos’s office ran into problems recruiting a diverse applicant pool, and it took the supervisors nine months to approve its four people to the advisory panel.

Meanwhile, Lee has yet to fill any of his five seats on the committee.

"We are waiting for him to appoint his people," Campos told the B.A.R. during a recent editorial board meeting. "The Board of Supervisors can’t force him to do anything. The deal we struck was to create a committee; we did our part and we are waiting for him to do his part."

Tom Temprano, co-president of the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic Club, expressed disappointment that the decision on a Milk terminal had yet to be finalized ahead of this year’s Harvey Milk Day, annually observed in California on May 22, which is Milk’s birthday.

"I think it is frustrating that a year out we are celebrating what would have been Milk’s 84th birthday and the mayor is continuing to drag his heels on not only this honor for Harvey but potentially for a number of San Franciscans," said Temprano. "I would love to be flying out of the Harvey Milk international terminal someday. Hopefully, by his 85th birthday, we will be able to take a flight in his honor."

Never Before Heard Confession of Dan White, Murderer of Harvey Milk and George Moscone

Mike Weiss, the author of the book “Double Play“, about the murders of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, while doing research obtained a copy of the audiotape of Milk and Moscone murderer’s Dan White’s confessional interview with officers of the San Francisco Police Department, conducted the day of the fatal shootings at San Francisco’s City Hall.

Weiss gave a copy of the audiotape to Randy Shilts when he was conducting research for his book “The Mayor of Castro Street”, and he placed his copy in his archive which is now housed at the San Francisco Public Library History Center where it has been kept since

This never before heard audio of White’s confession made on 11/27/1978 has now been made available for all to hear thanks to San Francisco queer activist and blogger Mike Petrelis of The Petrelis Files who obtained a CD version, and uploaded it to SoundCloud for all to hear

Listen to this very important and disturbing piece of LGBT history .

BEHOLD! THE HARVEY MILK COMMEMORATIVE STAMP!

Linnis.com Stamp News just revealed the design for the U.S. commemorative "forever stamp" honoring San Francisco political figure and gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

According to Linnis.com:

The stamp will be issued on Harvey Milk Day, May 22, in a location or locations yet to be determined. Both Washington, D.C., and San Francisco are potential first-day cities. U.S. Postal Service officials announced the stamp subject in October 2013 but have not formally revealed the image.

As we reported last fall, "the campaign advocating for a stamp in Milk's honor began back in 2009... [this] stamp will be the first to feature an openly LGBT elected official."

The Washington Blade also has an in-depth story on the contentious campaign to get the stamp made in the first place.

SF Candlelight Vigil Planned Wednesday to Mark 35th Anniversary of Milk-Moscone Assassination

A candlelight vigil is being held tonight in San Francisco to mark the 35th anniversary of Harvey Milk and George Moscone's assassination at City Hall.

Write the organizers on Facebook:

Harvey and George were the brightest beacons of hope for San Francisco’s disenfranchised and displaced. But more than that, they represented the spirit of San Francisco, a city for anyone and everyone, welcoming to all, affordable to all, with justice for all. 35 years later, the time has come again for us to gather, one and all, to remember Harvey and George. More importantly, the time has come to make their vision of a city of hope come alive. Now more than ever, we have to give each other hope.

The vigil will begin at Milk Plaza at 7pm followed by a candlelight march down Market Street to City Hall. A performance by the Gay Men's Chorus, words of inspiration from Dustin Lance Black, and a recorded message from Harvey Milk will conclude the evening.

ASL Interpretation and Spanish translation will be provided as well as accessible transportation from Milk Plaza to City Hall.

Postal Service to issue Harvey Milk stamp

Thirty-five years after Harvey Milk made history as California's first openly gay elected leader, he's closing in on another historical first.

The U.S. Postal Service said Friday that the late San Francisco supervisor and civil rights leader will join the likes of John F. Kennedy, Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson by being recognized with a commemorative stamp - an honor that had apparently never before gone to an openly gay politician.

It may not be Milk's biggest victory, but it was an important one for his nephew Stuart Milk, who co-founded the nonprofit Harvey Milk Foundation, and a number of civil rights organizations who sought the recognition for years.

The Postal Service selects only about 20 subjects per year for a stamp from among thousands of proposals reviewed by a citizen advisory committee.

"We're excited," Milk said. "We think this will represent my uncle's message, which is hope and courage and authenticity, very well."

Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 and represented the Haight-Ashbury and upper Market Street neighborhoods, where the city's gay population emerged as a force in politics.

While gay rights was always a priority for Milk, his agenda included a variety of issues, from affordable housing to public transportation to expanded child care.

On Nov. 27, 1978 - just 11 months into his supervisor term - he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by Dan White, another supervisor who became angry when, after leaving office, the mayor would not reappoint him.

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who knew Milk and shared many of his views, said Milk would have been "amused" by the recognition by the Postal Service, though he quipped that Milk's political rivals wouldn't approve of the stamp.

"I'm sure the right-wing homophobes will probably warn their kids not to lick it," said Ammiano, who represents San Francisco in the Legislature.

Milk's legacy has been increasingly celebrated. He posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, won a day of recognition on California's official state calendar and was the subject of a major motion picture, "Milk," starring Sean Penn.

This year, the legislation was introduced to the Board of Supervisors to rename San Francisco International Airport - or part of it - after Milk.

The design of Milk's commemorative stamp has not been made public. Its release has not been scheduled, but is expected sometime next year.

While other gay people - such as artist Andy Warhol - have been recognized with stamps, the Harvey Milk Foundation said Milk will be the first elected gay leader to be honored.

Happy Harvey Milk Day!

Complete Text of the Speech

Harvey Milk Wikipedia Page

Milk Foundation

Save Your Kids from the Gay

This Wednesday is Harvey Milk Day in California; a day which is intended to celebrate this important gay rights activist. One conservative anti-gay organization, SaveCalifornia.com, is using radio ads airing in Sacramento and Los Angeles to urge parents to keep their kids home from school that day. Randy Thomasson, the president of the group explains his reasoning behind the illogical boycott:

According to the Sacramento Bee, the group's president, Randy Thomasson, says: "This is harmful to children...This is not academic, it's brainwashing." Thomasson also explained his feelings on the holiday to CBS13: “Children belong to the parents, not to the state, and to force a sexual agenda and a political agenda upon children, that’s highly inappropriate.”

What is highly inappropriate is the all of the information as well as a video posted on on the group's website which is full of hateful lies and anti-gay propaganda. The alarmist image above is from the group's website.

Watch a CBS13 news segment about the anti-gay campaign