Watching the film about Harvey Milk, it felt interesting to learn about Harvey Milk and how he was able to win and become a supervisor for his city even with his ideals. Harvey was a voice for those who were scared to come out the closet because how society will reject them, and because of this, Harvey took his power and made it possible to protect the rights for the LGBTQ. As of today, it's still a challenge for many LGBTQ individuals as of their rights are slowly being stripped away from them by the states.
I made the comment about the candles in the window.
Harvey Milk's blissful and thought- out- lack of a fear of death connects to the inextinguishably of his flame. The darkest depths of despair cannot extinguish a single flame. The death of a joyous, charismatic leader lead to the entrance, straight out of the closet of thousands of close allies; not to be extinguished.
Even when justice was not served, the fight was not over. Hate cannot stall good. We saw the codification of gay marriage and I believe society today to be closer to what Harvey Milk would have wanted it to look like.
In my church, there is an argument that regardless of belief in God, sexuality, racial or gender identity, we will all be saved. The church then logically concludes that our main pursuit should be earthly; to establish a good living circumstance for all people while we are here.
Another pastor from an African Episocal church spoke of the importance of shining an internal light within. She spoke of the internal light as independent of circumstance. That one could handle themselves as gracefully in times of war as times of peace.
In stories of resiliency in the face of persecution, there is a focus on one's self and family. These stories do not attack the grandios of their entrapped systems, but rather of daily life. Of the way the sun still shined in the face of hate, that the flowers still bloomed in seasons of darkness.
I think Milk is comfortable in his death; comfortable because he knew that he was one droplet of water in a growing wave. The wave might ebb and flow, but it will reach home. And then, we will be whole at last. We will be OK.
The film was so full of hope and devastation. I think that I had hoped that he would've made it out alive, as I feel like it is far too often the story that the marginalized person loses their life to hatred. As a supervisor, White was threatened by the mere existence of Milk as a coworker. His position of white, male, authority was fragile, and cracked under the pressure of support for Milk as he came into office. I think this film reminded me that to cultivate care for one another is to cultivate change. To continue to uphold the systems in place, is to continue to perpetuate violence against one another. The System in America runs on the oppression and confinement of others. It is mentioned in the documentary, but it is the system itself that is the largest perpetuator of violence, not individuals within it. My biggest takeaway is to remember that our presence as impacted communities and people makes a difference. We are meant to belong in the space we are told we are not. It is important to cultivate care for one another and our communities, and continue to push towards social justice and equality. The fight cannot end just because the system pushes back harder. We must continue to support one another, and use our impact as people where we can.
A lot of this documentary is similar to what is happening within politics today. The rhetoric that was used by conservatives against queer people then is exactly the same as what conservatives today are using. They say that queer people are a threat to the safety of children, even though that is not based in fact at all. However, this argument somehow works for people and this made up threat on children is used as an excuse for bigotry. I also noticed a similarity between the events in the documentary and the election. The people had in the documentary had hope for the future and how that hope was crushed by Milk’s murder and the unjust charge against White. Leading up to the election, people had a similar hope for the future with Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate and that hope was crushed by Donald Trump winning the election. History is just constantly, and unfortunately, repeating itself.
Watching the documentary on Harvey Milk was hard, I had a gut feeling that hatred would get him. Hearing how deeply he impacted his friends and coworkers was heartwarming. Those closest to him weren’t just by his side—they were there for him, clearly recognizing how special he was. The love he gave far outweighed what he received, as Harvey faced so much rejection despite his own openness and warmth. I admired his consistent joy and laughter, and his unshakable belief in the equality of the LGBTQ+ community. He encouraged people to "come out," to show that gay men and women are teachers, surgeons, politicians, and even part of your own family. Harvey opened doors and made it easier for others to step out of the closet. His authenticity inspired countless people to follow his lead.It was a gut punch to learn that he was assassinated. I cried during the candlelit vigil—silent, peaceful, and stretching for blocks. Harvey believed in nonviolence, and even after his death, those who honored him, as well as George Moscone, upheld that message.
Before watching this film I was unaware of who Harvey Milk was. Honestly, I'm surprised I had never heard his name before as I feel like he is someone I should've been aware of and that more people should know too. It's surprising to me that in 1977 they had elected an openly gay city supervisor, since being gay was a way more uncommon thing then, although I do think it's wonderful that there were enough people who supported him for him to get elected. It is so incredibly sad that he wasn't even in office for a full year before he was murdered. I think the fact that Dan White who was a straight white man really shows how fragile their masculinity can be, and I think that this can be directly related to issues with gender norms and politics today, like how so many men didn't vote for Harris simply because she was a woman. I feel that a lot of them felt threatened by the idea of being "controlled" by a woman and that it definitely made them feel less masculine. It was hard to believe that Dan White tried to justify the murder of the City Supervisor and Mayor by being "severely mentally distressed." This was an awful attempt at trying to look innocent as it's quite clear it was because he also felt threatened by a man who did not fall into the "gender norms." It's embarrassing that we still live in a world where men feel threatened by women being leaders, and men who aren't straight having the ability to be in the same positions of power as they are.
Harvey Milk ran for office multiple times and lost, he didn’t give up and stayed true to himself. Becoming the first openly gay politician gave a voice to minority groups in San Francisco. Progress like this has continued over the years for women, the LGBTQ+ community and other minorities. However, Donald Trump is trying to undo this progress and revert society to back to a time when straight white men held all the power. Trump is oppressing groups that don’t fit into his ideals and wants to control everyone.
In the documentary Harvey Milk said he knows that if proposition 6 and similar policies were passed that people would go back into the closet for fear of their safety and livelihood. Today the Trump administration has attempted to keep the LGBTQ+ community from being protected in the workplace. Rather than enforcing equality Trump seeks punish the LGBTQ+ community. Queer children and students may not feel like schools are a safe space for them if teachers like them are being fired for their sexual orientation.
Another parallel I drew from the documentary to politics today is the violence against the queer community. Dan White, a straight white political figure killed two people in cold blood, received a light sentence for his crimes. The jury sympathized with him being a new father and he claimed temporary insanity. I could see hate crimes being committed and if Trump gets his way, then these criminals will get off lightly.
Honestly watching the documentary was difficult, I even found myself tearing up. Today’s gender politics are policing people and trying to force them to conform to Trumps ideal societal norms.
One thing that I took away from this film and how it relates to gender politics today is that someone was offended, and as a result, lives were taken or harmed. In the case of Harvey Milk, Dan White was threatened by Harvey’s ease at the job they both had undertaken and was often frustrated. In today’s politics, men are threatened by women in power because they believe that only men are capable of being good enough to do things like that. In Dan’s case, when he resigned as supervisor of the 8th district, he almost immediately regretted it and wanted to go back, but his reappointment all depended on the mayor’s choice. However, during the time when the mayor was choosing who he wanted to pick, Harvey Milk went to the mayor and practically told him that reappointing Dan White was going to be the wrong choice. Dan’s choice to murder Harvey shows to me that in his mind, the only way to make himself feel better is to snuff out the problem. This makes me think about our world today and the politics because something that all politicians like to do, even if they don’t want us to know, is that they will take out the opposition if they are able to. In their and Dan White’s minds, to make sure that they further themselves in life and keep advancing is to get rid of the competition or push them so far behind the scenes that they have no influence.
The Times of Harvey Milk is a poignant and deeply moving documentary that not only captures the life and tragic death of Harvey Milk but also serves as a broader commentary on the social and political climate of the 1970s. What stands out most is the film's ability to make Milk's story resonate with audiences, even decades later. Using archival footage and firsthand interviews gives authenticity and emotional depth that drive home the importance of his work and the sense of loss felt by the community. One compelling aspect of the film is how it portrays Milk not just as a gay rights icon but as a human being who genuinely cares about people and inclusivity. His charm, humor, and fierce commitment to justice make his accomplishments and struggles relatable and inspiring. Additionally, the documentary doesn’t shy away from the complexities surrounding his assassination and the aftermath, including the controversial trial of Dan White. The leniency shown toward White, and the outrage that followed, serves as a reminder of the systemic injustices that often intersect with issues of identity and power. The film leaves viewers reflecting on how far society has come in terms of LGBTQ+ rights and how much work still needs to be done. It’s a celebration of Harvey Milk’s legacy and a call to action, emphasizing that change requires perseverance and the courage to stand up for what’s right. The documentary remains relevant today, especially in discussions about civil rights and the ongoing fight against discrimination, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in social justice history.
The fact that Dan White was able to pretty much get away with murder is something that, since watching the film, has disgusted me. How did our system fail these two men, one of whom was the mayor, and let the man responsible get away with practically a slap on the wrist?
I agree that the plot of the documentary had me pretty upset; to know Harvey and then to lose him. Harvey was so himself and it hurts that self- expression motivated murder. However, you will find justice for Dan White in the duty that your relationship with Harvey and your brother puts on you. In supporting their spirit of individuality, they call you to be unapologetically yourself and to push towards the community you want to see. I think if we follow the principles that Harvey put forth, he becomes immortal, and Dan White can be forgiven with love for the way his own hatred hurt the world and himself.
Unfortunately using mental illness or claiming temporary insanity is a legal tactic still used today. You paint a sob story like Dan White did, he is a pillar of the community with young children who made a mistake because he was depressed and financially stressed. Reality is a emasculated man premeditated the murder of two men, one being the Mayor of San Fransisco and still gets off lightly. Dan White was threatened by Harvey Milk because he was a Gay man who was terrific at his job. It is so sad that violent acts like this are still committed against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Watching the film about Harvey Milk, it felt interesting to learn about Harvey Milk and how he was able to win and become a supervisor for his city even with his ideals. Harvey was a voice for those who were scared to come out the closet because how society will reject them, and because of this, Harvey took his power and made it possible to protect the rights for the LGBTQ. As of today, it's still a challenge for many LGBTQ individuals as of their rights are slowly being stripped away from them by the states.
I made the comment about the candles in the window.
Harvey Milk's blissful and thought- out- lack of a fear of death connects to the inextinguishably of his flame. The darkest depths of despair cannot extinguish a single flame. The death of a joyous, charismatic leader lead to the entrance, straight out of the closet of thousands of close allies; not to be extinguished.
Even when justice was not served, the fight was not over. Hate cannot stall good. We saw the codification of gay marriage and I believe society today to be closer to what Harvey Milk would have wanted it to look like.
In my church, there is an argument that regardless of belief in God, sexuality, racial or gender identity, we will all be saved. The church then logically concludes that our main pursuit should be earthly; to establish a good living circumstance for all people while we are here.
Another pastor from an African Episocal church spoke of the importance of shining an internal light within. She spoke of the internal light as independent of circumstance. That one could handle themselves as gracefully in times of war as times of peace.
In stories of resiliency in the face of persecution, there is a focus on one's self and family. These stories do not attack the grandios of their entrapped systems, but rather of daily life. Of the way the sun still shined in the face of hate, that the flowers still bloomed in seasons of darkness.
I think Milk is comfortable in his death; comfortable because he knew that he was one droplet of water in a growing wave. The wave might ebb and flow, but it will reach home. And then, we will be whole at last. We will be OK.
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The film was so full of hope and devastation. I think that I had hoped that he would've made it out alive, as I feel like it is far too often the story that the marginalized person loses their life to hatred. As a supervisor, White was threatened by the mere existence of Milk as a coworker. His position of white, male, authority was fragile, and cracked under the pressure of support for Milk as he came into office. I think this film reminded me that to cultivate care for one another is to cultivate change. To continue to uphold the systems in place, is to continue to perpetuate violence against one another. The System in America runs on the oppression and confinement of others. It is mentioned in the documentary, but it is the system itself that is the largest perpetuator of violence, not individuals within it. My biggest takeaway is to remember that our presence as impacted communities and people makes a difference. We are meant to belong in the space we are told we are not. It is important to cultivate care for one another and our communities, and continue to push towards social justice and equality. The fight cannot end just because the system pushes back harder. We must continue to support one another, and use our impact as people where we can.
A lot of this documentary is similar to what is happening within politics today. The rhetoric that was used by conservatives against queer people then is exactly the same as what conservatives today are using. They say that queer people are a threat to the safety of children, even though that is not based in fact at all. However, this argument somehow works for people and this made up threat on children is used as an excuse for bigotry. I also noticed a similarity between the events in the documentary and the election. The people had in the documentary had hope for the future and how that hope was crushed by Milk’s murder and the unjust charge against White. Leading up to the election, people had a similar hope for the future with Kamala Harris as a presidential candidate and that hope was crushed by Donald Trump winning the election. History is just constantly, and unfortunately, repeating itself.
Watching the documentary on Harvey Milk was hard, I had a gut feeling that hatred would get him. Hearing how deeply he impacted his friends and coworkers was heartwarming. Those closest to him weren’t just by his side—they were there for him, clearly recognizing how special he was. The love he gave far outweighed what he received, as Harvey faced so much rejection despite his own openness and warmth. I admired his consistent joy and laughter, and his unshakable belief in the equality of the LGBTQ+ community. He encouraged people to "come out," to show that gay men and women are teachers, surgeons, politicians, and even part of your own family. Harvey opened doors and made it easier for others to step out of the closet. His authenticity inspired countless people to follow his lead.It was a gut punch to learn that he was assassinated. I cried during the candlelit vigil—silent, peaceful, and stretching for blocks. Harvey believed in nonviolence, and even after his death, those who honored him, as well as George Moscone, upheld that message.
Before watching this film I was unaware of who Harvey Milk was. Honestly, I'm surprised I had never heard his name before as I feel like he is someone I should've been aware of and that more people should know too. It's surprising to me that in 1977 they had elected an openly gay city supervisor, since being gay was a way more uncommon thing then, although I do think it's wonderful that there were enough people who supported him for him to get elected. It is so incredibly sad that he wasn't even in office for a full year before he was murdered. I think the fact that Dan White who was a straight white man really shows how fragile their masculinity can be, and I think that this can be directly related to issues with gender norms and politics today, like how so many men didn't vote for Harris simply because she was a woman. I feel that a lot of them felt threatened by the idea of being "controlled" by a woman and that it definitely made them feel less masculine. It was hard to believe that Dan White tried to justify the murder of the City Supervisor and Mayor by being "severely mentally distressed." This was an awful attempt at trying to look innocent as it's quite clear it was because he also felt threatened by a man who did not fall into the "gender norms." It's embarrassing that we still live in a world where men feel threatened by women being leaders, and men who aren't straight having the ability to be in the same positions of power as they are.
Harvey Milk ran for office multiple times and lost, he didn’t give up and stayed true to himself. Becoming the first openly gay politician gave a voice to minority groups in San Francisco. Progress like this has continued over the years for women, the LGBTQ+ community and other minorities. However, Donald Trump is trying to undo this progress and revert society to back to a time when straight white men held all the power. Trump is oppressing groups that don’t fit into his ideals and wants to control everyone.
In the documentary Harvey Milk said he knows that if proposition 6 and similar policies were passed that people would go back into the closet for fear of their safety and livelihood. Today the Trump administration has attempted to keep the LGBTQ+ community from being protected in the workplace. Rather than enforcing equality Trump seeks punish the LGBTQ+ community. Queer children and students may not feel like schools are a safe space for them if teachers like them are being fired for their sexual orientation.
Another parallel I drew from the documentary to politics today is the violence against the queer community. Dan White, a straight white political figure killed two people in cold blood, received a light sentence for his crimes. The jury sympathized with him being a new father and he claimed temporary insanity. I could see hate crimes being committed and if Trump gets his way, then these criminals will get off lightly.
Honestly watching the documentary was difficult, I even found myself tearing up. Today’s gender politics are policing people and trying to force them to conform to Trumps ideal societal norms.
One thing that I took away from this film and how it relates to gender politics today is that someone was offended, and as a result, lives were taken or harmed. In the case of Harvey Milk, Dan White was threatened by Harvey’s ease at the job they both had undertaken and was often frustrated. In today’s politics, men are threatened by women in power because they believe that only men are capable of being good enough to do things like that. In Dan’s case, when he resigned as supervisor of the 8th district, he almost immediately regretted it and wanted to go back, but his reappointment all depended on the mayor’s choice. However, during the time when the mayor was choosing who he wanted to pick, Harvey Milk went to the mayor and practically told him that reappointing Dan White was going to be the wrong choice. Dan’s choice to murder Harvey shows to me that in his mind, the only way to make himself feel better is to snuff out the problem. This makes me think about our world today and the politics because something that all politicians like to do, even if they don’t want us to know, is that they will take out the opposition if they are able to. In their and Dan White’s minds, to make sure that they further themselves in life and keep advancing is to get rid of the competition or push them so far behind the scenes that they have no influence.
The Times of Harvey Milk is a poignant and deeply moving documentary that not only captures the life and tragic death of Harvey Milk but also serves as a broader commentary on the social and political climate of the 1970s. What stands out most is the film's ability to make Milk's story resonate with audiences, even decades later. Using archival footage and firsthand interviews gives authenticity and emotional depth that drive home the importance of his work and the sense of loss felt by the community. One compelling aspect of the film is how it portrays Milk not just as a gay rights icon but as a human being who genuinely cares about people and inclusivity. His charm, humor, and fierce commitment to justice make his accomplishments and struggles relatable and inspiring. Additionally, the documentary doesn’t shy away from the complexities surrounding his assassination and the aftermath, including the controversial trial of Dan White. The leniency shown toward White, and the outrage that followed, serves as a reminder of the systemic injustices that often intersect with issues of identity and power. The film leaves viewers reflecting on how far society has come in terms of LGBTQ+ rights and how much work still needs to be done. It’s a celebration of Harvey Milk’s legacy and a call to action, emphasizing that change requires perseverance and the courage to stand up for what’s right. The documentary remains relevant today, especially in discussions about civil rights and the ongoing fight against discrimination, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in social justice history.
The fact that Dan White was able to pretty much get away with murder is something that, since watching the film, has disgusted me. How did our system fail these two men, one of whom was the mayor, and let the man responsible get away with practically a slap on the wrist?
Hello,
I agree that the plot of the documentary had me pretty upset; to know Harvey and then to lose him. Harvey was so himself and it hurts that self- expression motivated murder. However, you will find justice for Dan White in the duty that your relationship with Harvey and your brother puts on you. In supporting their spirit of individuality, they call you to be unapologetically yourself and to push towards the community you want to see. I think if we follow the principles that Harvey put forth, he becomes immortal, and Dan White can be forgiven with love for the way his own hatred hurt the world and himself.
Best,
Nate
Unfortunately using mental illness or claiming temporary insanity is a legal tactic still used today. You paint a sob story like Dan White did, he is a pillar of the community with young children who made a mistake because he was depressed and financially stressed. Reality is a emasculated man premeditated the murder of two men, one being the Mayor of San Fransisco and still gets off lightly. Dan White was threatened by Harvey Milk because he was a Gay man who was terrific at his job. It is so sad that violent acts like this are still committed against members of the LGBTQ+ community.
What do you mean by "fascist" as a description of the Democratic party?