..:. Cracking My Vainpot .:..

Martin Luther King Day today. 

I still have his portrait up in my room back in my parents' house.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

But since America, even on the eve of inaugurating Obama, only thinks black & white are equal and that gays don't deserve all civil rights, I need another hero.

I need a gay hero!

What about Milk? Harvey Milk? 

One of the 1st openly gay elected officials in the world? 

The one who told you to come out and fight for your rights?

2008 Thanksgiving. Nationwide premiere of the movie "MILK" in San Francisco neighborhood, Castro, where it all began.

The biopic was released to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the double assassination of supervisor Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone.

In San Francisco, "MILK" was as popular as "Brokeback Mountain". Go see it if you want to be proud.

It was all part of the the gay-rights movement, of course. Right in the heart of Castro, you'll find a small exhibition "Passionate Struggle" about it's history.

Amongst its exhibits, you'll find the sewing machine that made the first ever rainbow flag...

... and panthlets from early 80s, warning against the mysterious "gay cancer" that eventually wiped out a whole generation of homosexuals.

But the most important pieces, were items from the time of Harvey, like this 1978 slogan T-shirt against "Prop 6", which proposed to mandate the firing of all gay teachers from public schools.

How I wish we still have a figurehead like Harvey, canvassing up and down California to defeat Prop 8.

Harvey Milk's business card.

See the blood stain and bullet holes? Harvey was wearing this suit when he got murdered in the SF City Hall.

But all is not lost. Gay rights have continued to enter people's consciousness.

To commemorate Harvey Milk & George Moscone's assassination, SF Gay Men's Chorus once again sang at the steps of SF City Hall, where Milk famously said "I'm here to recruit you!". Milk's nephew was invited to address the crowd.

As a sign of growth in the LGBT political contingent, we now have more than one representatives running for major offices. 

Kudos to Rafael Mandelman of the Harvey Milk Club, organizer of those commemoration events.

Candle light vigil.

Marching the SF City Hall

down Market Street...

Those who don't need walking aids,

together with those who do...

Hundreds...

Thousands...

Back to Castro, back to Milk's old camera shop, back to where it was ok to be different,

to listen to Harvey, whose words still ring true today.

"Gay brothers and sisters, ...You must come out. 

Come out... to your parents... Come out to your relatives...

Come out to your friends...if indeed they are your friends... 

Come out to your neighbors...to your fellow workers...

But once and for all, break down the myths, destroy the lies and distortions."

If you don't change people you know, how can you change people you don't know?

Come out.

I need a hero, in you!