Here is a photo from 1977, Harvey Milk is protesting the streets regarding his gay rights.
This photo takes place in 1972, here Harvey Milk is passing San Francisco's City Hall. He is on his way to his first Gay Freedom Pride Parade. Harvey Milk is showing his form of activism.
Here shows an image of Harvey Milk, one of the most well known gay activists from San Francisco. He is celebrating on the streets because he is proud to be a gay leader of his city.
Harvey Milk is still known today as one of the most profound gay activists. In 1978 Milk made a huge impact politically and socially when it came to gentrification and Urbanism of the Castro District. Milk grew his identity when he decided to be the first openly gay man to run for a seat on the city’s board of supervisors. This holds its significance because Harvey Milk was an extremely passionate man when it came to bettering the gentrification and urbanism in his neighborhood, The Castro. Milk became widely know in San Francisco because he was the first gay man to challenge the cities gay leadership laws. After the Watergate scandal took place Milk was upset, and believed that he could produce change if he had the political power to do so. After Milk lost his first election he became very upset and decided to show his form of activism by putting on a street fair. At this fair he promoted voters to vote for him in the upcoming election. Having the opportunity to put on these street fairs in the neighborhoods is a great example of urbanism began. Harvey Milk was passionate about preserving the unique characteristics of the cities neighborhoods. “Milk was the driving force behind the passage of a gay-rights law that prohibited discrimination, or unequal treatment, in housing and employment based on sexual orientation” (Krakow). As gay’s and lesbians began to find out about this law the Castro district began to gentrify even quicker. Meaning, more members of LGBT began making the Castro neighborhood their “safe space”. Milk was more than a gay rights activist, he also felt very strongly about liberation between the people.
During the 1970’s San Francisco’s Castro District began to gentrify, this was before the city rent controls laws were put into place. The Castro district had a large amount of flat’s that were generally owned and then rented out. During the gentrification and renovation process of these homes, it was very important to keep them as upscale and expensive as possible. In doing this it would be possible to keep economic diversity. The wealthy people of the neighborhood wanted to avoid the lower class population from gentrifying. The city passed a law making it mandatory for all run down homes in the area to remodel the outside of their homes so that they do not look run down or a part of a lower class neighborhood. After these homes were re-done they would sell them to upper class more affluent families. As gentrification took place many people could no longer afford to live in these areas. “San Francisco can likewise lay claim to one of the nations largest homeless populations, with estimates that between 8,000 and 15,000 people live on the streets at any given time” (Breitel). This issue is significant because the number of transients young and old began to increase drastically. “Residential rents rose by over 225 % between 1996 and 1999, and San Fran could lay claim to being the most expensive rental housing market in the United States” (Brietel). In 1960’s the Federal Urban Renewal Program made it mandatory for rebuild several neighborhoods in San Francisco. The overall goal FUR was hoping to accomplish was that all neighborhoods become populated by middle to upper class. LGBT members had different reactions to these changes in their neighborhoods. Although they appreciated the advantages of living in upper class neighborhoods, this upset many because they could not afford to live. “The pivotal moment for gay migration came after the Stonewall riots of June 28th, 1969. By the late 1960’s homosexual intercourse was illegal in nearly every U.S. state. Police raids on underground gay bars were frequent” (Ruiz, Paul). Stonewall was a release for the underground and sexually repressed lesbian and gay community. In 1969 migration of gays and lesbians increased drastically. “Gentrification in the Urban housing market and the emergence of an exclusive pink economy facilitated the distinctive look- and- feel of gay neighborhoods (economic)” (Ruiz, Paul). In a social sphere Urbanism began to develop communities, and to unite people with similar social, economic, and political goals. “LGBT people were driven into the city by desire for local political power, the need of more resources, and a general sense of safety and anonymity” (Ruiz, Paul). Sociologist Manuel Castells’ has done research and believes that gays moved into urban spaces because cultural permissiveness allowed for sexual experimentation.