Entertainment
CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
We asked four of this years 2006 Out 100 honorees to tell us which late, great member of the LGBT community influenced their lives the most.
I was 14 years old when Harvey Milk was elected to San Franciscos board of supervisors. Because I grew up in a somewhat sheltered and religious environment in Texas, I had no idea the impact that this one mans election would have on the shaping of our political environment. Milk paved the way for the election of close to 300 openly LGBT individuals by the early 2000s.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official of any large city in the United States. But the campaign was no easy task for Milk, who prior to his 1977 election lost three bids for elected office; he ran once for California assemblyman and a total of three times for the board seat he finally won. His election was a political milestone at a time when, for many, to be gay was to feel destined to live a life steeped in fear, shame, and lies.
Milks determination became my inspiration when I accepted a political post in the Clinton administrationwhere I served from 1993 to 1996and chose to live my life as an openly gay man. That choice and the path of many LGBT individuals was largely influenced by Milk, whose political life came to an abrupt end in November 1978, when he was murdered (along with San Francisco mayor George Moscone) by a former board member.
I will always have a special place in my heart for this man who worked so hard for the LGBT community. For that reason, I was particularly moved when Christopher Street West gave me the Harvey Milk Award in 2004. In helping LGBT youths, it is my goal to continue Harveys fight for equality and to ensure that no one will ever have to live a life of fear, shame, or lies.
Valencia has since 2001 served as executive director of the Trevor Project, which runs the nations only 24-hour suicide prevention hotline for LGBT youths. In January 2007 he will assume his new post as executive director at the Point Foundation, which provides scholarships to exceptional LGBT students.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
38 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes
November 17 2023 5:18 PM
These are all the celebrities Who came out as LGBTQ+ in 2023
December 31 2023 12:19 PM
These Pics Prove Maluma Has Always Been a Certified Daddy
October 20 2023 1:13 PM
32 LGBTQ+ Celebs You Can Follow on OnlyFans
October 25 2023 3:15 PM
26 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
February 28 2024 1:50 PM
16 Times Celebrity Men Had to Say They Weren't Gay
February 29 2024 1:19 PM
21 LGBTQ+ reality dating shows & where to watch them
April 03 2024 4:01 PM
15 Unforgettable Gay Kissing Scenes From TV & Movies
February 14 2024 10:20 AM
14 queens who quit or retired from drag after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
April 04 2024 12:56 PM
40 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
January 04 2024 10:54 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
This morning was PURE CHAOS in the Bravo universe
April 15 2024 7:35 PM
Wrestling stud Anthony Bowens stuns in sweaty & steamy gym selfie
April 15 2024 4:56 PM
Billie Eilish kissed a girl at Coachella & we're FREAKING OUT
April 15 2024 4:19 PM
Writing helped save one queer poet's life—now he wants to help others feel seen & heard
April 15 2024 4:08 PM
Diplo showed off his bare ass & we really want to lean on it
April 15 2024 3:10 PM
15 iconic looks that prove Zendaya & Law Roach NEVER miss
April 15 2024 2:39 PM
Rapper NLE Choppa shows love to LGBTQ+ fans, claps back at haters
April 15 2024 2:29 PM
'The People's Joker' will make you rethink everything you know about superhero movies
April 15 2024 1:52 PM
Homophobes are BIG MAD that Justin Bieber & Jaden Smith were affectionate at Coachella
April 15 2024 12:27 PM
April 15, 2024
April 15 2024 12:18 PM
What's the difference between 'badussy' & 'bussy'? NLE Choppa explains
April 15 2024 12:05 PM