Harvey Milk: His Lives And Death

Lillian Faderman creates a detailed, dimensional portrait of LGBTQ equality pioneer - and martyr - Harvey Milk in a biography that takes its place among the "Jewish Lives" series and also earns its place on the ever-expanding shelves that recount the lives and histories central to recent gay history.

In "Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death," Faderman traces Milk's formative influences back two generations and then explains his life in terms of those influences, as well as the highly anti-gay culture in which Milk came of age. Faderman, a scholar of LGBTQ history, is also the author of a number of other books, including "The Gay Revolution," where she also touched upon some of the players here.

Faderman explains Milk's theatrical talents and aspirations, which played into (and, in a sense, originated) his political career; his relationships (which followed a pattern of mentoring certain sorts of younger men); and his burning concern not just for LGBTQ equality, but also equality and acceptance of all minorities, be they sexual, religious, ethnic, or racial.

Milk's life, more so than most, followed a zig-zagging path, and Faderman stays with him for each turn, creating a sympathetic and realistic portrait of a historical figure that's been all but canonized by gay culture. The author also explains Milk's political association with San Francisco mayor George Moscone who, together with Milk, was shot to death in November of 1978 by Dan White, a former fellow city supervisor whose ideological and personal clashes with Milk Faderman delineates.

Faderman's title refers to Milk's "Lives," and the pages of this book fulfill the implicit promise of that plural. Milk's own accomplishments include being one of America's first openly gay elected officials, but he also established the Castro Street Fair - an annual tradition even now. Milk also interacted with an astonishing number of people whose names and accomplishments - and, sometimes, crimes - still resonate today. From Jim Jones (the head of the cult that committed suicide in Guyana) to African American drag sensation Sylvester, to the man who brought the love rock tribal musical "HAIR" (among other hits) to Broadway, Milk's too-short trajectory through life intersected with the notable and the notorious.

This is a recommended read that will humanize, de-mystify, and illuminate Harvey Milk - and in so doing give readers fresh hope, which was, after all, Milk's gift to us and his stock in trade. Milk's talents and tenacity, together with some lucky timing and his ultimate sacrifice at the hands of a killer, helped make possible decades of progress. That progress may be threatened now, but one thing we can all take from the story of Milk's life - make that lives - is the conviction that what we do for the sake of others matters. Compassion, a commitment to justice, and a willingness to serve define Milk, as do his insecurities and caprices. Harvey Milk didn't have to be perfect in order to help make the world a better place, and neither do we.

"Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death"
by Lillian Faderman
$25
https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300222616/harvey-milk