Gay Place

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARVEY! This Saturday would have been Harvey Milk's 70th birthday had he not been gunned down in 1978. Harvey needs no introduction, right? I mean, you all saw the movie, yes? Well, he's worth a deeper dig, truly. Here's one of my favorite quotes from him. It's from his first unsuccessful San Francisco city supervisor run, but has certainly outlasted the winner of that race: "It takes no compromising to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no survey to remove repressions." Dang. I love that. Not only does it address the obvious oppressors, but it also nudges and pokes at the enemies within – the internalized homophobia, within individuals and also within the fabric of our very own LGBTQ, seemingly so often focused on such superficial and status-based bullshit instead of the basic human realities at hand. Really, this is a great time to introduce yourself to Harvey, and this weekend's events are a great way to get to know him better. First, the Equality Across America Texas Regional Conference happens at ACC Eastview (May 21-23). It's basically put together by our local contingent of Join the Impact folks, the frisky gang behind the National Equality March, instigated by Milk-man Cleve Jones. Smack dab in the middle of the weekend and right before you head out for your Saturday social blitz, make a beeline to Austin City Hall and meet up with some blazing activist types who will take a stroll from our seat of city government to the Texas seat just to the north, up Congress, our beloved state Capitol. It's the Harvey Milk Day March (See Saturday). See you there?

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