San Francisco's Chance At Making The Skies Inviting To All

By Ross Zelen on February 5, 2013

California is an innovator in all aspects, but sometimes falls short in our proper acknowledgments for our state heroes. California culture is unlike anything in the nation, but our innovative spirit continues into the Civil rights and marriage equality field. Although they do not neatly fit into the Silicon Valley “machinery innovations” or “advancements in Hollywood” with CGI, they often effectively make California a leader and agenda-setter for the rest of the country. This post is about the push to dedicate San Francisco’s airport in Harvey Milk’s name. My cousin is working on the grassroots campaign aspect, and it really does seem like a way for California to once again be an innovator of embracing all people and holding their accomplishments up, no matter if everyone agrees or not.

The first article is from the SF Examiner (http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/2013/02/renaming-sfo-include-harvey-milks-name-would-be-beacon-hope), written by a supporter of the legislation named David Campos.

Campos writes, “My goal would not just be to “honor” him, but to move forward the civil-rights agenda for which he lived and died. Milk wasn’t just one of America’s first openly gay elected officials. He was — and still is — an inspiration for all individuals who are bullied, discriminated against and abused. “You have to give them hope” is how Harvey said it. And that’s as true today as it was 35 years ago.

Marriage equality is at a national tipping point in the United States. California’s own Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, is in the hands of an extremely conservative Supreme Court. Across the globe, being gay is against the law in 77 countries. I believe it’s the perfect moment for San Francisco to make our airport a beacon of hope by adding Milk’s name.”

Michael Yaki wrote in the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-yaki/san-francisco-airport-harvey-milk_b_2482379.html) about how Birmingham has dedicated its airport to an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement named Fred Shuttlesworth, and that San Francisco leading the way by making this change will lead to more pertinent history lessons being taught in California classrooms.

Yaki wrote: ” Milk was a champion, a ceaseless fighter, a relentless spirit and, ultimately, a martyr, the impact of Harvey Milk cannot and could not be confined merely to the 47 square miles of our beautiful city. His spirit can be felt in the halls of Congress and inside the walls of the West Wing, and in the souls of those who believe in equal and civil rights for all.

As Shuttlesworth was to Birmingham, so is Milk to San Francisco. And both left legacies far beyond the borders of the cities to which they are both irrevocably linked.”

It’s an interesting debate when there are so many upstanding people from San Francisco that deserve an honor this great. But the message behind Harvey Milk’s name might help this current tumultuous time period and make California once again an innovator in embracing all people, adequately celebrating hard work and determination.

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