Got Hope? Harvey Milk.

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

And 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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[hx3artshapedb0x]

every time i watch this i cry, and then i feel like i could run a marathon. i'm not even gay but this is the most inspirational and beautiful thing i've ever seen in my life :)

[Causecast]

@hx3artshapedb0x it's great to hear you were so moved by this video (though feeling like you could run a marathon is a new reaction we haven't encountered. I like it.)

[cherrielane69]

Thank you Harvey Milk for giving me hope when I was a teenager. I am now 48 and today I help to remind my family, nephews, nieces, friends that yes we can be ourselves that fear is death ...silence is death....and WE are FREE to Be Ourselves in Harmony!

Lisa Carpenito "Positive and Proud in Portland, Oregon"

[Ishcoa]

@TommyC503

Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans.

[TommyC503]

@alexis13thirteen What does LGBT mean?

[julykid28]

god bless Harvey Milk. I know he is smiling down at us today.

[alexis13thirteen]

@TommyC503 Well for one thing, not all LGBT people are white. And he is not saying that you must elect gay people, in this speech, he is saying that humans cannot live without hope.

[alexis13thirteen]

I watched that clip and I am reading the comments that people have posted and my eyes are tearing up. It' so sad that he's not around now.

[dustcloud36]

He's dead and Anita Bryant is still alive, that's just wrong...

[GenocideOnToast]

This brings me so much hope and so much joy :)

[noxe101]

I love this! Does anyone know where I can find the complete speech?