Harvey Milk Speech

http://www.causecast.org

Harvey Milk was the first openly-gay man to be elected to public office in the US in 1977. His most recognized speech, "You Cannot Live On Hope Alone," was given in 1978, shortly before he was assassinated. His words resonate particularly today as Californians debate a resolution to ban gay marriage.

To learn more about Harvey Milk, check out http://www.causecast.org/member/harvey-milk

To learn about more Causes, check out http://www.causecast.org.


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"Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio there is a young gay person who all the sudden realizes that he or she is gay; knows that if their parents find out they will be tossed out of the house, their classmates will taunt the child, and the Anita Bryant's and John Briggs' are doing their part on TV. And that child has several options: staying in the closet, and suicide. And then one day that child might open the paper that says "Homosexual elected in San Francisco" and there are two new options: the option is to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight. Two days after I was elected I got a phone call and the voice was quite young. It was from Altoona, Pennsylvania. And the person said "Thanks". And you've got to elect gay people, so that thousand upon thousands like that child know that there is hope for a better world; there is hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's: without hope the us's give up. I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope."
-Harvey Milk, 1978

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[rob8241]

Is there anyway I can get a copy of this video?

[Causecast]

@rob8241 you can download the .mp4 at blip (dot) tv/file/1378277

[HaloChick15]

now thats what i call a damn good speech

[Lieselle]

"I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it life is not worth living."

[YaoiRocksYourSocks]

@lyricman17 theonewiththeface922 is right. AD is Anno Domini.

Yes, what I wrote four months ago was retarded. Thank you for pointing it out.

[theonewiththeface922]

@lyricman17 AD means "Anno Domini", which translates to "In the Year of Our Lord."

[lyricman17]

@YaoiRocksYourSocks Ok, I'm going to give you a chance to save yourself. "BC" means Before Christ; "AD" means After Death. Need I say more?

[tripeandbean]

@proudnunashamed YOu said it sister.THere is a documentary that recently aired called "World's Worst Place to be gay?". It's about LGBT life in UGANDA.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU WATCH IT.

[Inertiatrajectory]

and you've got to elect gay people smh.

[jprongay]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS VIDEO! THEY NEED ANOTHER HARVEY MILK IN THIS DAY IN AGE

[MrLamentation]

Amazing and Inspiring. 

[Isaacthekid]

I'm gay and also a trans-man, I had to deal with the negative comments and listen to the bigotry beliefs from friends and family members and had to hide what I am just to be safe (I still do), but I will never give up hope. No matter how bad it appears, there's always a way. Hope is a beautiful thing that keeps us alive :)

[YaoiRocksYourSocks]

@dustcloud36 You're not thinking about the fact that Jesus was supposedly alive from 4 BC to 30 AD; people were afraid of basically everything, because they had very simple minds.

Some people still do have very simple minds, but they have enough logic to realize that killing another person is not exactly a good thing to do.

I agree, the churches need to mind their own business, especially in America where religion is not at all meant to interfere with the government.

[dustcloud36]

@YaoiRocksYourSocks Yeah he was Jewish, but he still spoke out against them and they had him killed. Yes society needs to be educated better, but the churches aren't helping. Or just mind their own business, it may be a cliche by now, but If you're against gay marriage then don't get one.