"Harvey was personally
connected to why he was doing what he did. It wasn’t just about rights or
electoral politics, it was about the fact that he was in love with Scott or he
was in love with Jack Lira – and he wanted that to be okay. He didn’t want to
be judged for it. He wanted to have the
right to be himself, because when he was a young man, and even when he first
came to San Francisco, it was against the law to be in a gay relationship, to
dance with a man, or to be in a gay bar. So, his is an intensely personal
story, even when it is a political one. As a screenwriter, this was one of
those rare chances to tell a story where the two are absolutely connected. It was politics for the sake of love.” DUSTIN LANCE BLACK
Throughout the film, law enforcement officers are cast in a negative light. When they appear on screen they are either assaulting gays [Toad Hall scene] or making insulting comments about them. The murder of Robert Hillsbourough is an example. "The fruit was walking home with his trick," the officer said to Harvey. The Cops are mentioned several times by Harvey in Milk but always in a negative context.
The morality surrounding the homosexuality is framed in such a way that Anita Bryant's clan of Christian crusaders are seen as bigots who want to take away the rights of Gays everywhere, while Harvey and his gay gang are the victims. They aren't immoral for their lifestyles, they are being discriminated against for being open.
There are two scenes in the movie where Harvey receives a phone call from Paul, a gay teen from Pennsylvania whose parents are sending him to a hospital to "fix him." Harvey tells Paul there is nothing wrong with him and he shouldn't be ashamed.
Harvey later explodes at a then drunk Dan White when he slurs that Harvey has an edge politically because he has "an issue."
News clips of Anita Bryant show her saying that there are evil forces among us, even if they are in the guise of something good. It isn't clear in what context she is making the statement but viewers are led to believe it is about gays and lesbian. She later remarks, "I do love homosexuals, if you can believe them. And I love them enough to tell them they're wrong." In one Evening News clip, Walter Cronkite said the Dade County ordinance pits Anita Bryant against the Gays. Anita Bryant, beauty queen winner and the face of Tropicana, becomes the embodiment of all discrimination, hate, and bigotry towards the Gay community.
The character of Dan White and Harvey's relationship with him is extremely fascinating. From the beginning White is stand-offish and brusque. In the film, Harvey suggests White could be a "closeted case," [a theory that has never been proven] and that it may be the reason White is under a lot of stress. White later comes to Harvey's birthday party drunk saying, "I have issues too, Dan White's got an issue!" His temper is shown through confrontations with Harvey in the hallway and in the supervisor's chambers. The actual timeline of events that changes Milk's and White's relationship is skewed and out of order in the film so that it appears White turns on Harvey. And in the confrontation in the hallway, White almost pleads with Harvey saying, "You can't humiliate me." Viewers can see Harvey become increasingly skittish and uncomfortable around White. These events culminate in White's resignation and consequential request to be reinstated to the Board of Supervisors.
The characterization of Dan White makes him two-dimensional. We see him not as cold-blooded, calculating murder but as a real person with real problems. White mentions his struggle to support his family. Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black said in a 2008 NPR interview that he concluded that White also felt a lot of pressure to make a difference for the people of his District and was frustrated he was overshadowed by fellow freshman supervisor Harvey's headline-grabbing antics.
But there isn't much time for viewers to garner sympathy for White. Although White was found not guilty of premeditating the murders of Moscone and Milk, in the movie it appears he contemplates his actions carefully. After he receives the call informing him he won't be getting his job back, White sits, clearly agitated on his sofa. The fit man rocks slightly in his underwear, we aren't clued in to what he is thinking about but it is obvious it is distressing him. But when the camera again revisits White he is fully dressed and has a steely composure. He's made his decision to kill.
Framing:
Throughout the film, law enforcement officers are cast in a negative light. When they appear on screen they are either assaulting gays [Toad Hall scene] or making insulting comments about them. The murder of Robert Hillsbourough is an example. "The fruit was walking home with his trick," the officer said to Harvey. The Cops are mentioned several times by Harvey in Milk but always in a negative context.
- "The cops hated us and we hated them right back," Harvey narrates for his assassination will.
- Scott declares he's going to call the cops when a threat promising to cut-off Harvey's "balls, cock and prick" is received, but Harvey jokingly responds with "Don't, they [the police] probably wrote it."
- After Dan White resigns, Harvey witnesses Dan being pulled into what he believes is a secret meeting with the police. In a tirade, Harvey references the event to Mayor Moscone while he is in his office lobbying against Dan's re-instation to the board. "Who knows what they were talking about," he exclaims.
The morality surrounding the homosexuality is framed in such a way that Anita Bryant's clan of Christian crusaders are seen as bigots who want to take away the rights of Gays everywhere, while Harvey and his gay gang are the victims. They aren't immoral for their lifestyles, they are being discriminated against for being open.
- "You can argue with me, but you can't argue with God," says John Briggs after sponsoring Proposition 6. A similar warning of, "There is man's law and there is god's law" is tossed at Harvey and Scott by a local store owner when they open Castro Camera.
There are two scenes in the movie where Harvey receives a phone call from Paul, a gay teen from Pennsylvania whose parents are sending him to a hospital to "fix him." Harvey tells Paul there is nothing wrong with him and he shouldn't be ashamed.
Harvey later explodes at a then drunk Dan White when he slurs that Harvey has an edge politically because he has "an issue."
News clips of Anita Bryant show her saying that there are evil forces among us, even if they are in the guise of something good. It isn't clear in what context she is making the statement but viewers are led to believe it is about gays and lesbian. She later remarks, "I do love homosexuals, if you can believe them. And I love them enough to tell them they're wrong." In one Evening News clip, Walter Cronkite said the Dade County ordinance pits Anita Bryant against the Gays. Anita Bryant, beauty queen winner and the face of Tropicana, becomes the embodiment of all discrimination, hate, and bigotry towards the Gay community.
The character of Dan White and Harvey's relationship with him is extremely fascinating. From the beginning White is stand-offish and brusque. In the film, Harvey suggests White could be a "closeted case," [a theory that has never been proven] and that it may be the reason White is under a lot of stress. White later comes to Harvey's birthday party drunk saying, "I have issues too, Dan White's got an issue!" His temper is shown through confrontations with Harvey in the hallway and in the supervisor's chambers. The actual timeline of events that changes Milk's and White's relationship is skewed and out of order in the film so that it appears White turns on Harvey. And in the confrontation in the hallway, White almost pleads with Harvey saying, "You can't humiliate me." Viewers can see Harvey become increasingly skittish and uncomfortable around White. These events culminate in White's resignation and consequential request to be reinstated to the Board of Supervisors.
The characterization of Dan White makes him two-dimensional. We see him not as cold-blooded, calculating murder but as a real person with real problems. White mentions his struggle to support his family. Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black said in a 2008 NPR interview that he concluded that White also felt a lot of pressure to make a difference for the people of his District and was frustrated he was overshadowed by fellow freshman supervisor Harvey's headline-grabbing antics.
But there isn't much time for viewers to garner sympathy for White. Although White was found not guilty of premeditating the murders of Moscone and Milk, in the movie it appears he contemplates his actions carefully. After he receives the call informing him he won't be getting his job back, White sits, clearly agitated on his sofa. The fit man rocks slightly in his underwear, we aren't clued in to what he is thinking about but it is obvious it is distressing him. But when the camera again revisits White he is fully dressed and has a steely composure. He's made his decision to kill.
In the movie, Harvey's view on politics is similar to the film's intermittent opera arias; for him, Politics is Theater, you need a little drama and acting to gain the approval of critics. This was exemplified in Harvey's dog-poop-stepping scene. He strikes a pose and he ends up on the front page of the San Fransico Chronicle. David Goodstein says that Harvey is in the election for the theatrics. Harvey talks about needing headlines and a unanimous vote for his gay rights legislation. Harvey is framed as a suave operator of the press which has been deemed true by Anne Kronenberg, Michael Wong, Dick Pabich, and others.
Also, Scott in the film plays a more passive role in Harvey's election campaign. He does not seem as zealous or devout as Dick Pabich or Johnson. But in actuality Harvey and Scott would stay up at night arguing about campaign strategy. [The Mayor of Castro Street] He was just as much involved in the first campaign as Harvey was
The character of Harvey Milk is that of a hero. He's responsible, tirelessly fights for his cause, and he plays Savior to several characters in the movie: his lover Jack, Paul, the wheelchair gay, Cleve Jones after he returns Heartbroken from Spain, and characters who seek refugee in his Camera shop. Only briefly is it mentioned that Harvey is a bad businessmen, [Cleve to Kronenberg upon getting the endorsement by the San Fransisco Chronicle]and film-Harvey never looses his temper [scenes of his temper tantrums were omitted in the editing process]
“I saw Milk as a charismatic leader and a father figure to his people – some of whom might have lost their fathers because of their sexuality – who accomplished so much in a short period of time," Black said. “His legacy is telling people, if you’re gay, don’t closet yourself. You should see yourself as different in a great way, and you should aspire to something."
Themes:
Patriarchy - there is little mention of lesbians who were having their own gay rights movement on Hyiat Street only a few blocks away. This was a story about men, played by men, and made by men. The director, producers, and writer of the film are all male The only two main female characters in the film were campaign manager Anne Kronenberg and Anita Bryant, who is portrayed by actual historical footage. There are two other significant women the movie milk did not acknowledge. Political consultant Tory Hartman, who helped Milk win in 1978 and lesbian Sally Gearhart, a former high school teacher who appeared on television with Milk in a debate against John Briggs against Propostition 6.
HOPE = Belief that they can change how gays are treated [Milk's famous speech at the Gay Freedom Rally. see below] Milk crusades throughout the whole movie for change and acceptance. When Harvey first goes to meet David Goodstein, Harvey questions Goodstein when he says Harvey cannot just demand acceptance. This is definitely an underdog story. Against all odds, Harvey Milk is elected to City Supervisor as an openly gay man. His election alone signified a step forward for the Gay community.
"And the young gay people in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias and the Richmond, Minnesotas who are coming out and hear Anita Bryant in television and her story. The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up. And if you help elect to the central committee and other offices, more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone."
Excerpt of Harvey Milk's staple Hope Speech.
Heteroideology: When Harvey first meets Scott he says that he knows lots of people and must be discreet about homosexuality because it could cost him his job. Harvey calls the Castro a place for gay "refugees," and heteroideoloy is the underlying theme in the Harvey's election campaigns, Anita Bryant Save Our Children mission and the Briggs initiative. The minority group [homosexuals] fight against the majority [heterosexuals] to protect their rights. But at the same time, the majority of the Milk movie is focused on Harvey and his world in the Castro. On Castro street, a straight person would be the minority. The Gays have a lot of power shown by their boycotts of stores not friendly to them, the successful boycott of Coors Beer, their rallies and marches to city hall, etc. Homosexuality is seen as the norm and those who say differently are cast in a bad light. The Producers, Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, Writer Dustin Lance Black, and Director Gus Van Sant are all openly gay. All the major characters in the movie with the exception of Mayor Moscone and Dan White were also Gay or Lesbian.
Patriarchy - there is little mention of lesbians who were having their own gay rights movement on Hyiat Street only a few blocks away. This was a story about men, played by men, and made by men. The director, producers, and writer of the film are all male The only two main female characters in the film were campaign manager Anne Kronenberg and Anita Bryant, who is portrayed by actual historical footage. There are two other significant women the movie milk did not acknowledge. Political consultant Tory Hartman, who helped Milk win in 1978 and lesbian Sally Gearhart, a former high school teacher who appeared on television with Milk in a debate against John Briggs against Propostition 6.
HOPE = Belief that they can change how gays are treated [Milk's famous speech at the Gay Freedom Rally. see below] Milk crusades throughout the whole movie for change and acceptance. When Harvey first goes to meet David Goodstein, Harvey questions Goodstein when he says Harvey cannot just demand acceptance. This is definitely an underdog story. Against all odds, Harvey Milk is elected to City Supervisor as an openly gay man. His election alone signified a step forward for the Gay community.
"And the young gay people in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias and the Richmond, Minnesotas who are coming out and hear Anita Bryant in television and her story. The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up. And if you help elect to the central committee and other offices, more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone."
Excerpt of Harvey Milk's staple Hope Speech.
Heteroideology: When Harvey first meets Scott he says that he knows lots of people and must be discreet about homosexuality because it could cost him his job. Harvey calls the Castro a place for gay "refugees," and heteroideoloy is the underlying theme in the Harvey's election campaigns, Anita Bryant Save Our Children mission and the Briggs initiative. The minority group [homosexuals] fight against the majority [heterosexuals] to protect their rights. But at the same time, the majority of the Milk movie is focused on Harvey and his world in the Castro. On Castro street, a straight person would be the minority. The Gays have a lot of power shown by their boycotts of stores not friendly to them, the successful boycott of Coors Beer, their rallies and marches to city hall, etc. Homosexuality is seen as the norm and those who say differently are cast in a bad light. The Producers, Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks, Writer Dustin Lance Black, and Director Gus Van Sant are all openly gay. All the major characters in the movie with the exception of Mayor Moscone and Dan White were also Gay or Lesbian.
Gate-keeping:
The omission of female characters Hartman and lesbian Gearhart, omission of Dan White's gay campaign manager Ray Sloan. [including him could have entirely changed the framing of White] .
There is no mention in the movie that Harvey and White had a friendly relationship. According to Diane Fienstein the two met for coffee once a week.
There is no mention that Harvey's campaign for City Supervisor and State Assembly were not his first forays in the political arena: Mayor Moscone appointed Milk to be on the San Francisco Board of Permits in 1975 after narrowly missing election for Supervisor.
The movie does not highlight some of Harvey's other civic activities such as his position as a columnist for daily newspaper Bay Area Reporter.
The Castro was a place of bathhouses [brothels] and marijuana but it is only briefly mentioned. Harvey smoked marijuana in real-life but that was never shown in the movie. Only Scott is seen smoking.
At his urging, the city announced an initiative to hire more gay and lesbian police officers. This is not mentioned in MIlk. Harvey also initiated programs that benefited minorities, workers, and the elderly.
There were a few defining events that spurred Milk to run for city Supervisor. Firstly, he was angered by the Watergate scandal and by a variety of local issues: a local school teacher came to Castro Camera inquiring if Harvey would lend her a projector. Her lesson plans consisted of slides but the school district was either not able or unwilling to oblige her request. Harvey reportedly flew into a tirade over the lack of school funding [pg. 71, The Mayor of Castro Street] Then, a city official came into Harvey's shop demanding $100. He claimed there was a tax on new stores and he was here to collect the money. This also angered Milk.
The omission of female characters Hartman and lesbian Gearhart, omission of Dan White's gay campaign manager Ray Sloan. [including him could have entirely changed the framing of White] .
There is no mention in the movie that Harvey and White had a friendly relationship. According to Diane Fienstein the two met for coffee once a week.
There is no mention that Harvey's campaign for City Supervisor and State Assembly were not his first forays in the political arena: Mayor Moscone appointed Milk to be on the San Francisco Board of Permits in 1975 after narrowly missing election for Supervisor.
The movie does not highlight some of Harvey's other civic activities such as his position as a columnist for daily newspaper Bay Area Reporter.
The Castro was a place of bathhouses [brothels] and marijuana but it is only briefly mentioned. Harvey smoked marijuana in real-life but that was never shown in the movie. Only Scott is seen smoking.
At his urging, the city announced an initiative to hire more gay and lesbian police officers. This is not mentioned in MIlk. Harvey also initiated programs that benefited minorities, workers, and the elderly.
There were a few defining events that spurred Milk to run for city Supervisor. Firstly, he was angered by the Watergate scandal and by a variety of local issues: a local school teacher came to Castro Camera inquiring if Harvey would lend her a projector. Her lesson plans consisted of slides but the school district was either not able or unwilling to oblige her request. Harvey reportedly flew into a tirade over the lack of school funding [pg. 71, The Mayor of Castro Street] Then, a city official came into Harvey's shop demanding $100. He claimed there was a tax on new stores and he was here to collect the money. This also angered Milk.
Other concepts....
Democracy: Government of the citizens of a country, determined by majority rule, based on elected representatives.
Ethnocentrism: “Our people are better than your people.” In other words, belief that one’s own culture, nation, or ethnicity is superior to all others.
Heteroideology: Privileges heterosexual and discriminates against sexual minorities. Asserts that sexuality is naturally ascribed, immutable and natural, and heterosexuality is an integral aspect of human intelligence and nature (Scheman, 1997).
Patriarchy: “[A]ny kind of group organization in which males hold dominant power and determine what part females shall and shall not play, and in which capabilities assigned to women are relegated” to domestic realms and excluded from political realms (Dow, 1996).
White Privilege: The “everyday, invisible, subtle cultural and social practices, ideas and codes that discursively secure the power and privilege of white people” the “discursive processes through which whiteness secures its normalized cultural dominance.” (Gorham, 1999; Shome, 1996)
QUOTATIONS
QUOTATIONS
- This is Harvey Milk speaking from the camera store on the evening of Friday, November 18. This is to be played only in the event of my death by assassination. I fully realize that a person who stands for what I stand for, an activist, a gay activist, becomes a target or the potential target for somebody who is insecure, terrified, afraid, or very disturbed themselves. Knowing that I could be assassinated at any moment, any time, I feel it's important that some people know my thoughts. And so the following are my thoughts, my wishes, and my desires, whatever, and I'd like to pass them on and have them played for the appropriate people.
- From a tape recording (1977-11-18) to be played in the event of his assassination, quoted in Randy Shilts, The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk (1982, ISBN 0-31256-085-0), p. 275
- I have never considered myself a candidate. I have always considered myself part of a movement, part of a candidacy. I considered the movement the candidate. I think that there's a distinction between those who use the movement and those who are part of the movement. I think I was always part of the movement. I wish I had time to explain everything I did. Almost everything was done with an eye on the gay movement.
- The other aspect of this tape is the business of what should happen if there is an assassination. I cannot prevent some people from feeling angry and frustrated and mad, but I hope they will take that frustration and that madness and instead of demonstrating or anything of that type, I would hope they would take the power and I would hope that five, ten, one hundred, a thousand would rise. I would like to see every gay doctor come out, every gay lawyer, every gay architect come out, stand up and let that world know. That would do more to end prejudice overnight than anybody would imagine. I urge them to do that, urge them to come out. Only that way will we start to achieve our rights.
- I ask for the movement to continue, for the movement to grow, because last week I got a phone call from Altoona, Pennsylvania, and my election gave somebody else, one more person, hope. And after all, that's what this is all about. It's not about personal gain, not about ego, not about power — it's about giving those young people out there in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias, hope. You gotta give them hope.
- And the young gay people in the Altoona, Pennsylvanias and the Richmond, Minnesotas who are coming out and hear Anita Bryant in television and her story. The only thing they have to look forward to is hope. And you have to give them hope. Hope for a better world, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. Without hope, not only gays, but the blacks, the seniors, the handicapped, the us'es, the us'es will give up. And if you help elect to the central committee and other offices, more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.
- A version of his staple "Hope Speech," quoted in Randy Shilts, The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk (1982), p. 363
- If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country
