Harvey Milk to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

[Political Tiger]

The Victory Fund has learned President Barack Obama plans to award America’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to Harvey Milk, one of the country’s first openly gay elected officials. The award will be accepted at a White House ceremony August 12 by Stuart Milk, the nephew of the late San Francisco Supervisor and civil rights activist.

“We are thrilled President Obama is honoring Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom. He’s an American hero and trailblazer whose election more than 30 years ago triggered a political awakening that inspires us still today. This recognition sends an important message about how critical political leadership will be in making all Americans equal in the eyes of the law,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Victory Fund.

Stuart Milk echoed Wolfe’s praise, saying, “The President’s action today touches the core of our very human hearts and my uncle would be so proud of this high honor. His election was, for him, a beginning–a chance to make real change. That change is happening, but we still have so far to go. I hope this recognition inspires LGBT Americans everywhere to heed Harvey’s call to run for office, to serve openly, to live proudly with authenticity and to demand the equality that we all deserve.”

American tennis great Billy Jean King, who is openly lesbian, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, who has championed LGBT equality throughout his political career, also will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the August 12 ceremony. Kennedy was honored by the Victory Fund in 2004 with its Oates-Shrum Leadership Award in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of LGBT Americans.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award created to honor especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.



http://www.gaypolitics.com/2009/07/30/harvey-milk-to-receive-presidential-medal-of-freedom/

(cross-posted from the GLBT Forum with moderators permission)

[graywarrior]

1. That is awesome

[DevonRex]

2. This brought tears to my eyes.

I hope this gives his family a bit of happiness and that they know how many of us respect him. What a wonderful man.

[EFerrari]

7. Mine, too. We have to work harder to get his day here.

Bravo, Harvey.

[DevonRex]

3. Oh yeah, K&R for a great man. nt

[Cha]

4. Cool, PO! I bet Sean Penn is also

smiling somewhere:D.

[Political Tiger]

6. As another poster pointed out, the resemblance to Sean Penn is remarkable!

[Cha]

8. That is amazing and Sean's

acting was so superb that he won an Academy Award for his portrayal of Harvey Milk.

[Political Tiger]

10. Well deserved! n/t

[Boomerang Diddle]

5. "More people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason.

That, my friends, that is true perversion." -Harvey Milk

[firedupdem]

9. Rec'd...This is wonderful news. n/t

[jenmito]

11. K&R. That's great. And the movie (Milk) was terrific. n/t

[Neecy]

12. I'm glad for Harvey's family

And this is well-deserved.

But in the absence of anything substantial, this is nothing more than symbolism, a way to toss us some crumbs. I don't like being played and this reeks of playing us.

[Boomerang Diddle]

13. -1

:banghead:

[proud patriot]

14. I just wish he was still alive to receive it

:hug:

:cry:

[AuntPatsy]

15. Nice bone, we can only hope those it meant to silence never realize

they are still hungry and begin making too much noise wishing and hoping for that four course meal they were promised....

[Egnever]

18. So you dont think he deserves it?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. There are two kinds of people in the world.

People who are happy Obama's awarding Milk.

And people who aren't happy Obama's awarding Milk.

[Egnever]

17. A shame he didnt live to recieve it

well deserved IMHO

[TankLV]

19. C-Street & sundry other "family values" heads exploding in 3, 2, 1...