Remembering George Moscone & Harvey Milk, 11/28/2008

On November 28, 2008, the city of San Francisco remembered the lives of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. It was the day after the 30th anniversary of the assassination of both Moscone and Milk by then former Supervisor Dan White, which occurred on November 27, 1978. George Moscone is remembered as a mayor who supported the disenfranchised people of San Francisco and left a legacy of future politicians that have shaped both the city and the state of California. Harvey Milk was the fifth ever openly-gay person to be elected to a government position (first in California) and is greatly remembered as a pioneer of gay rights in the 1970's.

The evening started out as a Memorial Concert and featured performances from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco and the GLAM Youth Choir, as well as speeches from the following individuals:

- Supervisor Tom Ammiano
- Jon Moscone, son of George Moscone
- Willie Brown
- Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk
- Carol Ruth Silver
- Harry Britt

The evening then progressed into a candlelight march from City Hall to the Castro neighborhood, specifically the location of 575 Castro Street, where Harvey Milk's Castro Camera store once presided in the 1970's. The march was led by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, who performed songs throughout the march.

The march was then followed by a gathering in front of the 575 Castro store front, where the following politicians spoke:

- Assemblyman Mark Leno
- Treasurer Jose Cisneros
- Supervisor Bevan Dufty

This video includes the following songs performed by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus during this Memorial Concert (in order of appearance):

- "My Thanksgiving Prayer" by Steve Schalchlin, arranged by Dr. Kathleen McGuire, Artistic Director and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus
- "Amazing Grace"
- "Thou, Lord Our Refuge" by Felix Mendelssohn
- "If My Friends Could See Me Now" by Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields, arranged by Jon R Sims & Wayne Love, performed with the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band

"Thou, Lord Our Refuge" was sung by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus in front of City Hall on the night of the assassination of Moscone and Milk in 1978. That was the first night in which the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed publicly. Accordingly, this day marks the 30th anniversary of the birth of the choral group.

Video: Sean Chapin

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• george
• moscone
• harvey
• milk
• assassination
• memorial
• concert
• candlelight
• march

[Aristemp]

Young people do know. I'm in middle school, and creating a website for a competition, "National History Day". My topic is Harvey Milk. I've found him to be a very inspirational figure, and I feel that he isn't dead. His spirit lives on through all of America, homosexual or not. :)

[aquatania]

I remember crying with sadness the day Harvey was murdered. Today when I saw this video, I wept with with pride in my heart.  Sincerely Aquatania

[Jeannenyc57]

Bless them both, they MADE a "difference"

I remember that day as if it was yesterday.

RIP Harvey & George

[Speegs23]

You should know it, since you practice it so readily.

Any thoughtful mind should be able to read quite clearly what is written nothing is in code or spelled out without clarity.

[SeanChapin1]

@Speegs23, I'm still not exactly sure where you stand on homosexuality, which is important for me to know to the point that I prefer clarity over nuance, but I do know arrogance when I see it.

[Speegs23]

Learn to read, intelligent people have nuanced answers.

You are trying to simply paint people in broad strokes which ironically exposes a prejudice within you.

if you can't clearly read what is written you're going to have a lot of difficulty putting forth a well reasoned argument on any position.

[SeanChapin1]

@Speegs23, being crystal clear means answering a question with a yes or a no so as to no create any confusion.

[Speegs23]

I've been quite clear, you need to read.

[SeanChapin1]

@Speegs23, no person is ever perfect, but no one can deny the good that Harvey Milk did for the gay community or his charisma and courage as a leader of the community and the city. Moreover, gay people are worthy of not special but equal status and treatment, and it is a shame that many people still treat gay people as neither special or equal but inferior and subhuman just because of their sexual orientation.

Are you going to answer my question of if you have anything against gay people?

[Speegs23]

It is obvious he had an heir of self importance and self martyrdom to himself and I do not have empathy for a group that tries toy base one's entire identity on who they go to bed with as if they were worthy of special status and treatment.

he was a kook, a murdered kook, but that doesn't justify the train wreck of a life he led, it only provided further tragedy to a tragic existence.

[SeanChapin1]

@Speegs23, in my opinion, George Moscone and Harvey Milk deserve the kind words that were spoken at this memorial, especially as both Moscone and Milk left a legacy that includes furthering diversity among the city's leaders and in particular furthering the gay rights movement. What unfounded exaggerations are you seeing in these speeches? Also, I'm still not sure if you have anything against gay people, as you didn't exactly answer my question.

[Speegs23]

i have great discernment for hubris and conjecture and find it intellectually dubious.