Thursday, May. 27, 2010

Gotta give 'em hope

In preparing for this week's column, I started looking for a good quote from Harvey Milk. There was no "I Have a Dream" speech - his life was cut short before that opportunity arose. Actually Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and death likely influenced Milk's decision to enter into political service and activism. King's assassination took place in the spring of 1968. Following the tumultuous activism that took place in the 1960s, Milk moved to the Castro district of San Francisco and started his career in civic leadership.

Milk was born in New York on May 22, 1930. In 1972, he moved to San Francisco along with many other gay men who found a new home in the Castro district during the first years of the gay rights movement. The following years would be full of battles, disappointments and some glimmers of hope. Anita Bryant would launch the modern anti-gay movement in 1977. Later that year, Milk would become the first openly gay man elected to public office, when he won a seat on the San Francisco City Board of Supervisors. Milk and then-mayor George Moscone were assassinated in 1978 by Dan White, a fellow City Supervisor who had recently resigned. Milk had only served 11 months, yet he was later seen as the most famous openly LGBT person elected to public office to this day. He has been called a visionary and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Following a revival of Milk's legacy, due to the 2008 Award-winning film "Milk" by Gus Van Sant, and a resurgence of gay activism, people across the country gathered for political rallies, dinners, celebrations and candle-light vigils this past weekend to honor Milk's birthday. Last year, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger designated May 22 as Harvey Milk Day and this year it really started to take shape as organizers around the country reached out across the Internet to share stories and plans.

While Milk's legacy was being honored, last week also brought the infamous - and in my opinion, vile - Westboro Baptist Church from Kansas to the Grand Strand. The local reaction was remarkable and moving. As many of you know I no longer reside in Myrtle Beach, but I can only say that I was utterly proud of the people along the Grand Strand for what I've read and seen in photos documenting the protests. People joined together, across lines of discrimination to come together and show solidarity against such hatred. Military vets, religious organizations, young and old, gay and straight would stand as one in an effort to show love conquering hatred.

During what's now called his "Hope" speech of 1978, Harvey Milk said "I cannot prevent anyone from getting angry, or mad, or frustrated. I can only hope that they'll turn that anger and frustration and madness into something positive, so that two, three, four, five hundred will step forward, so the gay doctors will come out, the gay lawyers, the gay judges, gay bankers, gay architects... I hope that every professional gay will say 'enough.' Come forward and tell everybody, wear a sign, let the world know. Maybe that will help." There were no official Harvey Milk Day Festivals in Myrtle Beach, or in South Carolina from what I can find, but the people of the Grand Strand definitely realized his hope and his message last week.

In one speech, Milk also pointed out "that more people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason." Groups such as Westboro spread that message as a positive -that their God is a God of hatred and punishment against almost anyone who isn't white, American and Christian. To quote Milk again, "That my friends, is true perversion."

I attended a Harvey Milk Festival in Florida and was amazed at a young generation that is leading the way. I get glimpses of that same force rising in Myrtle Beach via Facebook contacts and e-mails I receive. There's a new young force that is taking to the streets - no longer satisfied with remaining silent and waiting for equality to come to them. It's a testament to Milk's legacy and hope. I only hope that from the past week's activities, people realize that we have more in common than we have differences and when we stand together in the name of love we can overshadow the most horrid of evil in the world. The old and the young, the straight and the gay, conservative and liberal -we've seen glimpses of hope during the past few years. And strategically whenever we do, an army comes in to try and extinguish that fire. We must remember the recent activities along the Grand Strand and the legacy that Milk left behind and continue to stand strong together - in our own army of hope.

HOB GETS A SPLASH OF THE RAINBOW

The summer concert line-up at House of Blues, located at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, includes some great gay icons and musicians. First up is openly gay "American Idol" finalist Adam Lambert who takes the stage on July 3. Tickets range from $33-$80 and are on sale now. 1980s fave the Go-Gos with bisexual guitarist/songwriter Jane Wiedlin, take the stage on July 11 and tickets range from $30-$75. Finally, one of our favorite straight allies, Cyndi Lauper closes out the month with a concert on July 31. Tickets range from $22.50-$60. For more information on these concerts or to purchase tickets visit www.houseofblues.com/myrtlebeach or call 800-745-3000.

OUT & ABOUT

Friday, June 4 - The First Friday Happy Hour group will meet from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. June 4 at California Dreaming near Surfside Beach, at 2657 Beaver Run Blvd, near the intersection of S.C. 544 and U.S. 17 Bypass. There will be drinks specials and complimentary appetizers will be provided. For more information, e-mail FirstFriday@GambleLivingston.com.

Sunday, June 6 - 2001 Nightclub will host the Myrtle Beach Pride 2010 Pageant on June 6 featuring Miss Myrtle Beach Pride 2009 Dominique Devereux, Miss MBP 2008 Imani Tate, Kirby Koby and Jessica Raye. The event will start at 7 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Tickets are available at Kilgor Trouts or Rainbow House in downtown Myrtle Beach. There will also be an auction to raise money for the 2010 Pride Celebration and pre-show food and cocktails will be served. 2001 is at 920 Lake Arrowhead Road, Myrtle Beach. For more information visit www.myrtlebeachpride.com.

Have a thought, comment or Out & About event? Send Chris Rudisill an e-mail to SouthernGayWriter@gmail.com. You can also follow along on Facebook.com @SouthernGayWriter for more news and events.