On Gay Freedom Day, June 25th, 1978, a quarter of a million people gathered in San Francisco to protest inequality. Harvey Milk gave a speech that day, entitled "That's What America Is."
I contacted Mr. Milk (using some tricks I picked up from my Advanced Relativistic Quanum Mechanics, Time Warps And Black Holes class), informed him of the state of things hereabouts, and told him that today was his day. He gladly provided me with an updated version of his speech, which I excerpt here.
(Adopted from The Mayor of Castro Street, by Randy Shiltz, using Appendix IV)
My Name was Harvey Milk, and I Still Want to Recruit You.
I'm tired of listening to the Michelle Bachmanns, Pat Dobsons and Lou Engles twisting the language and the meaning of the Bible to fit their own distorted outlook.
I'm tired of the conspiracy of silence... the silence from the religious and political leaders of this nation who know that these bigots are playing fast and loose with the true meaning of the Bible. I'm tired of their silence more than of the Biblical gymnastics.
I'm tired of their lies.
I'm tired of their myths.
I'm tired of their distortions.
And finally
Most of all
I'm tired of the silence from the White House.
Barack Obama, you talked about equality a lot. In fact, you wanted to be a fierce advocate for equality. WELL, DAMN IT, LEAD!! There are some fifteen to twenty million LGBT men and women in this nation listening and listening very carefully.
Barack Obama, when are you going to talk about their rights?
Until you speak out against the hatred, bigotry, discrimination and inequality, you are just Barack Obama. When you do, then and only then, will LGBT people be able to say Barack Obama is OUR President too.
Barack Obama, you have the choice: HOW MANY MORE YEARS?
How much more damage?
How much more violence?
How many more ruined lives?
History says that, like all groups seeking their rights, sooner or later we will win.
The question is, WHEN?
Barack Obama, you have to make the choice -- it's in your hands. You can help turn the pages of history that much faster. You can bend the arc of justice just that much faster.
It's up to you, Barack Obama. Do you want to go down in history as a person who would not listen... or do you want to go down in history as a leader, as a President?
And to the bigots... To the Mark Souders... To the Michele Bachmanns ... To the Kevin Ken Starrs and all their ilk... Let me remind you what America is.
In the Declaration of Independence it is written, "ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL AND THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS."
In the Constitution of the United State is is written, "NOR DENY TO ANY PERSON WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION THE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAWS."
That's what America is.