Harvey Milk. Non à l’homophobie
(Harvey Milk. No to homophobia) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
The novel recounts the life of the famous American gay rights activist Harvey Milk from the age of seventeen to his death. As a young man, Harvey was forced to hide his true sexuality in private and in public, because being gay was considered a mental illness at the time. He took part in the first Gay Pride parade in 1970 and decided to move to San Francisco with his partner, Scott Smith. They opened a camera store and lived openly as a couple. Their shop became a meeting place for many LGBTQ+ people. Harvey eventually ran for the San Francisco council elections on a gay rights ticket. Once elected, his greatest achievement was the successful campaign against Proposition 6, which would have allowed homosexual teachers to be fired. He faced homophobic insults and numerous death threats. Dan White, another openly homophobic elected councillor, was particularly hostile and eventually assassinated Harvey in 1978. Harvey had recorded several cassette tapes with his last wishes, one of which was “If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door”.
Edited by: Université Sorbonne Paris Nord
Comment:
A short yet comprehensive biography of Harvey Milk that reads like a novel. The account of his fight for gay rights goes hand in hand with a touching portrait of a man who loved opera and American football and who struggled to reconcile his personal relationships and public political campaigning. The author explores questions of discrimination and homophobia in clear, didactic prose, teaching readers about the struggle for gay rights in America. Several complementary sections take the issue further, studying key moments in LGBTQ+ history, including World War Two deportations, the creation of the rainbow flag, the gay marriage vote in France, and the repeal of the “Don’t ask don’t tell” law in the United States. The biography ends with a list of books and films featuring homosexual characters and contact details for associations working in the LGBTQ+ sector.