White House Demonstration Outside Milk Postage Stamp Dedication

36 years after Harvey Milk’s death, demo questions whether there is more Obama can do to stamp out discrimination, than issue a postage stamp…

By Cathy Kristofferson, May 22, 2014

milkstamp12_milksuccessorToday, the White House saw demonstrators lobbying attendees gathered for the first-day-of-issue ceremony of the Harvey Milk postage stamp. Members of the LGBTQ group 1AngryOldLesbian.org urged attendees to insist President Obama sign the long awaited Federal Contractor Executive Order. That one signature would truly honor Harvey Milk, protecting 22% of the U.S. work force while making a great stride towards the goal of full federal equality.

As recently as this past weekend, President Obama said in his International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) statement:

“Tomorrow, as we commemorate the 10th annual International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, we recommit ourselves to the fundamental belief that all people should be treated equally, that they should have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, and that no one should face violence or discrimination – no matter who they are or whom they love.”

Youth from Harvey Milk High School
Youth from Harvey Milk High School

We wonder how anyone will “reach their fullest potential” while hiding in the closet to retain their job. Not to mention their home, their health care, their emotional and physical well being,  …

It’s time for the President to step up and take the actions he can. With the Congress in gridlock, and his promise to combat their inaction with executive action during his State of the Union speech, signing the Federal Contractor Executive Order is a simple move.

May 22nd is the birthday of Harvey Milk the first openly gay elected official in the state of California. Milk was instrumental in passing some of the earliest gay rights legislation before his assassination in 1978. If he were alive today demonstrators believe he would join with them to demand more for his 84th birthday than a postage stamp.

Harvey Milk's great nephew
Harvey Milk’s great nephew

As we have reported here on OBLOGDEE many times, President Obama, during his 2008 presidential campaign, promised to sign the Executive Order. Earlier this year, Vice President Biden called the lack of job protection for the LGBT community ‘Barbaric“.

While the organizers, 1AngryOldLesbian.org, and demonstrators are indeed delighted over the postage stamp honor bestowed on Harvey Milk along with today’s ceremony and Stuart Milk’s presence, they believe in Harvey’s dream of full un-qualified equality. President Obama should show leadership by taking the executive action he spoke of at the State of The Union to give the LGBT community protection from federal job discrimination.  The recent spate of overturned state marriage bans found violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, should give rise to the introduction of an omnibus bill to complete Milk’s dream.

GLESN's Eliza Byard
GLESN’s Eliza Byard

The Harvey Milk poster used at today’s demonstration was done with permission of the illustrator David C. Gardner of FlyingDogStudio.com. The illustration adorns the jacket of “In Celebration of Harvey Milk: Educational Material for Grades 4 through 12”. The organizers thank David for allowing us to add Harvey’s words to his beautiful art, which conveys Harvey’s resolute strength of purpose, emotion and passion we celebrate.

Hope will never be silent.” Neither will we, nor should you.

Thanks to Sergei Kostin, Leah Brown, Gael Murphy, Laurie Emrich, Malachy Kilbride, Ashley Lopez, David Barrows, Eugene Puryear, David Oswald Elizondo, Robert Moses, Jonathan Miller and all who let their voices be heard today!

Follow on twitter: #HarveyMilkStamp

Panels and pics:

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Mandy Carter of NBJC and Walter Naegle
Mandy Carter of NBJC and Walter Naegle
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Harvey Milk nephews
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Rep. Mark Pocan
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Steve Clemons of The Atlantic
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Harvey Milk High School
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Kathy Greenlee HUD Assistant Secretary for Aging

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Harvey Milk’s sister-in-law

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Handout:

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5 thoughts on “White House Demonstration Outside Milk Postage Stamp Dedication

  1. Reblogged this on The WordPress Blogatorium and commented:
    HOPE WILL NEVER BE SILENT ……
    Reblogged to the Blogatorium. Discover new blogs, make new friends, join our communities, have fun https://www.facebook.com/groups/thewordpressblogatorium/ (and for non facebook users https://plus.google.com/u/0/107780884163598533386 … Just started!!

  2. Reblogged this on JerBear's Queer World News, Views & More From The City Different – Santa Fe, NM and commented:
    Action that Harvey would be proud of…

  3. Pingback: Marriage Equality Round-Up 5/23/14
  4. Pingback: More than a postage stamp, please Mr. President | 1 Angry Old Lesbian
  5. Reblogged this on FLYING DOG'S BLOG and commented:
    Wow! A Harvey Milk postage stamp — and an important demonstration last week on Milk’s birthday.
    The demonstration was organized by http://1AngryOldLesbian.org, and the artwork is from a cover I did for Angela Luna’s educational workbook, “In Celebration of Harvey Milk.” (Angela’s wonderful book is available at Amazon, by the way.)
    Happy 84th Birthday, Harvey. “Hope will never be silent.”

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