Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Times Are Getting Better For Who? Not the Poor, Elderly or Disabled..

Congress blasts Medicaid hole in states' budgets

By Tami Luhby, senior writerJune 28, 2010: 7:20 AM ET


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Young children in Massachusetts will lose state-funded mental health services. Welfare recipients will see their employment and training programs slashed. And homeless families will lose nearly all their state assistance to move into more permanent housing.

Massachusetts lawmakers had to make these and other difficult cuts last week after discovering they had to slash another nearly $700 million out of the state budget. The Bay State had assumed Congress would pass $24 billion in additional Medicaid funding for states before their fiscal years start on July 1.

But that money hasn't materialized. In fact, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., effectively killed the bill last week after deficit-wary Republicans blocked it for a third time.

So officials in Massachusetts and 29 other states that counted on the funds to balance their budgets are left with the task of slashing services and payrolls once again.

"It's going to be another round of difficult decisions," said Corina Eckl, head of the fiscal program at the National Conference of State Legislatures. "Most states are looking at more spending cuts."

Seemed like a sure thing
Until recently, the additional Medicaid funding seemed like a sure thing. Both the Senate and the House had passed a measure extending the stimulus-fueled payment through June 30, 2011. It was even included in President Obama's federal budget.

But it then fell victim to mounting concerns about the nation's massive deficit. So states will see the funding run out at the end of December, unless Congress acts.

State officials, who have already contended with $89 billion in budget gaps this year, don't have to scramble to plug the holes in the next few days. There are several paths they can pursue, experts said.

Most of the state legislatures that assumed the Medicaid funding would come through have already finished their work for the year and are not due back until early 2011. But this is too long to wait since it will be harder to make deep cuts in such a short period of time.

So those legislatures may have to be called back into special session over the summer or fall, a costly proposition for these cash-strapped states. Or, the governors may be forced to unilaterally slash funding for all state departments.

Some state officials are still hopeful that Congress will approve the additional funding. They are lobbying their representatives, trying to impress on them the consequences of not getting the funds.

But they can't hold off forever.

"The longer they wait, the deeper the cuts have to be," said Nicholas Johnson, director of the state fiscal project at the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities. "So they are not going to wait too long."

6,000 now. 12,000 later
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has warned that if the Medicaid money doesn't come through, she'll have to cut 6,000 jobs to plug a $480 million budget gap. But if state officials wait until January, the figure would rise to 12,000.

If Congress doesn't act by the August recess, the governor will have to decide whether to make across-the-board cuts or to call the legislature back into special session, which costs $18,000 a day.

"I'm not giving up," Gregoire said last Thursday in a news conference. "But if we don't get the money, we've got problems."

About a half-dozen states, including New York, California and New Jersey, have yet to pass their budgets. So they are struggling to figure out how to cope with their new deficits.

In Pennsylvania, Gov. Edward Rendell and state lawmakers were close to a budget agreement before the Senate killed the bill. Now they have to determine how to close an $850 million budget gap that Rendell has said could cost 20,000 state and local government workers their jobs.

"The biggest impact you'd see right away is us laying off people," said Gary Tuma, Rendell's spokesman.

The governor would like to pass a budget that includes the Medicaid funds, but puts it into reserve accounts for specific programs that are frozen unless Congress acts, Tuma said.

Massachusetts lawmakers took a similar step last week when they slashed $687 million from the budget, roughly half in spending cuts, said Rep. Charles Murphy, House chair of the Ways & Means Committee.

The new fiscal plan outlines the amount of funding state agencies and programs would receive only if the Medicaid money if it comes through. For instance, lawmakers set aside $23 million for employment services for welfare recipients, but some 35% of that funding, or $8 million, is dependent on Congress approving the Medicaid match. So the program can only count on getting $15 million at this time.

"Thousands of state employees will be laid off," said Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, Senate chair of the Ways & Means Committee. "Tens of thousands of citizens who depend on state services will either lose those services or see them diminished. And any non-profit that depends on state subsidies will bear a large part of the burden, cutting into their core mission."

Monday, June 28, 2010

The Day After That..

Hi there

It's the morning after Pride in SF and my tanned, sore body is moving slowly out of bed to the much needed coffee.. We've had a month of events and films and parties all leading up to a very busy weekend, full of marching, dancing, connecting with old friends and making new ones. But, I can't help but ask myself, what's it all about and where do we need to go from here? On the day after that, what am I proud of? And what are my wishes for my community?

A local paper says that our celebration has gone mainstream. We have corporations that are clamoring to be sponsors of one of the biggest outdoor parties in the nation. There are celebrities that are eager to ride in our parade so they can push their latest product. We have dancing and drinking and music. What we don't have is our rights.

The general public loves to be entertained by us but does not love us enough to support our rights. Mainstream America loves our parties but won't let us marry. The straight world likes to dance to our tunes but won't protect us from discrimination at the workplace or in the military. We hear the speeches of well wishes and acknowledgement of our struggles, which are much more than 41 years worth. We didn't just appear out of nowhere at the Stonewall Riots or at Compton's Cafeteria. We've been marginalized and brutalized and abused for centuries. But we don't see the votes or the legislation that backs those words up with action.

I fully believe that we should celebrate our accomplishments of the last 41 years but we need to balance that with a constant pressing, a constant lobbying, a constant demand for all of our rights. Yes, come dance to our music and laugh with us as we poke fun at society's golden idols. But on the day after that, recognize us as more than second class citizens. On the day after that, give us all that is promised to every American. Let us sit at the table instead of throwing us scraps.

Celebrate our pride with us and on the day after that, give us our rights.

thank you
Kelly Rivera Hart

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Future of Queer Activism

Hi there...


Looking at the headlines of today, 41 years since the Stonewall Riots restarted the Modern Gay Movement, we’ve come so far and, in many instances, we have so far to go. And to think of the future of Queer Activism, we have to look briefly at it’s past.


No one could’ve imagined that we’d actually be talking about same-sex marriage in the courts forty-one years ago. Yet, we are even seeing it become a reality in many parts of the world and a few parts of this country of ours. Who would’ve imagined that we would be looking at the possibility of Gays and Lesbians being able to serve openly in the military? Yet, here it is again being looked at as a soon-to-be reality. And who could’ve imagined a culture that more and more teens feel empowered enough to be able to come out in high school and even run from prom king and queen? To me, that’s the biggest victory of all.


On the other side of the coin, here we are now still fighting to stop hate crimes; still battling and lobbying and playing whatever political games we have to to get an Employment NonDiscrimination Amendment through Congress and the Senate; still have to go toe-to-toe with individuals that refuse to keep the separation between church and state be in place so that, regardless of personal views, all Americans could have the rights and liberties promised in the Constitution.


Where do we need to go from here? I believe we need to take back the power and stop being led by what the other side is doing. We need to empower ourselves enough so that we, the LGBT community, are no longer reacting but acting. We need to utilize the technology that is now at our disposal and use the social networks, the Twitters, the FaceBooks, the YouTubes in the way that we used the streets and bullhorns to win hearts, show our strength, speak out against wrongdoing and win back our rights.


I believe we need to also unite with our allies in other communities that are underrepresented and maligned in much of the same ways we are. When we stand with one another, we have that much stronger a voice. We also need to unite within our own community, setting aside our personal benefits and fight with one voice for the common goals that we all want. We all have different ways but we all want the same things, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.


We are at an incredible mountaintop where we can see so many struggles that we’ve fought and so many brothers and sisters that didn’t make it this far with us but we can also see a future that could include marriage equality for all couples, all people being able to serve openly and proudly, an end to this horrible pandemic of AIDS, all people being able to go to whatever jobs and not be threatened with discrimination and schools that only teach what the enigma of bullying used to be. I see a potential future of Queer Activism where myself and my fellow activists much like the soldiers in a long war are able to come home to our lives and only need to focus on teaching our children what the world was like when we used to let hate and ignorance ruin lives of our neighbors and family members.


Happy Pride

Kelly Rivera Hart

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Politics Holding Up Emergency Funding for AIDS Meds- WTH!!

Hi there


I'm reading an article on how the Tea Party is threatening all moves towards funding for anything including emergency funding to help states across the nation to continue their needed AIDS Drug Assistance Program is beyond frustrating.

There are various political reasons why now eleven states now have people on waiting lists for life-preserving meds but it all boils down to the threat that this rag-tag uber-conservative nationwide mob called the Tea Party is blocking what people living with HIV and AIDS are dependent on for their lives. Not their livelihood but there very lives. How much more power will this mangy dog have before we get brave enough to put a muzzle on it? How many more lives get to be ruined before they are reminded that they know nothing about compassion or community?

"Some Democrats and Republicans in Congress who have long supported funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program are reluctant to back the struggling program this year because they fear the additional spending will jeopardize their chances of being re-elected, Capitol Hill observers and AIDS activists said this week.

William Arnold, executive director of the National ADAP Working Group, said intense pressure on members of Congress to curtail spending by the so-called Tea Party movement has made it difficult to line up support for an emergency supplemental appropriation measure.

Arnold and officials with other national AIDS and LGBT organizations say the program is facing a crisis never seen before, where a growing number of low income people with HIV or AIDS may be denied life-saving anti-retroviral drugs in at least 11 states this year because state ADAP affiliates have run out of money.

Due to a shortage of funds, the 11 states have been forced to put in place waiting lists for patients who otherwise would have received AIDS medication prescribed by their doctors.

“It’s ridiculous that people have to be wait-listed for medicine that they need to stay alive,” said Laurie Young, a policy analyst for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force."

And how much more damage has to be done to not only the system but also to society before leaders, Democratic and Republican grow a pair and put the good of American citizens over the good of their political careers?

It's time that the rest of us speak out and threaten that inaction will also decide their political careers. To all those that are cowering to these Tea Party bullies, we say, "Defy them and do what's right or go down with them!"


take care

Kelly Rivera Hart

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Celebrate or Protest? Ruling on Prop 8 Any Day Now..

Hi there..

Now that the closing arguments are over, we get to sit, wait, bite our nails and prepare for the announcement that Judge Walker will give his ruling.

What can we do to be ready so we can show up at the Courthouse asap?

We don't know if it will be a celebration or a protest. We do know that whatever the case, it will go on to the Circuit 9 courthouse on it's way to the Supreme Court.

This will be a moment in history and I hope we all as a community, including our leaders, groups allies and loved ones can be together to celebrate or protest together.

So, get a goody bag together-
>Make a list of the people you will call, text and email to join you for this important moment in history and..

For celebration:
marriage licenses, marriage outfits, noisemakers, happy signage thanking the Judge Walker for doing the right thing, maybe a bottle of champagne and roses

For protest:
marriage licenses, chants, bullhorns and signage showing disappointment but continued dedication to pursuing full equality

Join up and stay tuned for the ever changing, ever developing movement for full equality.

thanks
Kelly Rivera Hart

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Cheer For Marriage Equality - Closing Arguments In the Prop 8 Challenge



On Wednesday, June 16th, the closing arguments for the Prop 8 Challenge will be given. Lets's gather outside in the morning and show our support for marriage equality as lawyers and the Judge Vaughn Walker arrives for the day.
Bring signs, copies of marriage licenses, positive messages, cheers for equality and encouragement to do the right thing..

Join Marriage Equality USA leaders, Poz Activists Network, community partner organizations, couples who joyfully married, couples who want to marry, clergy leaders and many more!

Together we will share the fellowship of courage, hope and strength and send up a cheer for equality, the parties, organizations and attorneys involved in this important moment in our movement's history happening right in our backyard. Don't miss the opportunity to be a witness and a participant standing on the side of love - be counted.

There will be LOTS of strong coffee provided to those willing to get up that early and join us. Extended family and friends and couples are encouraged to bring copies of their marriage licenses, photos from their weddings or anything that might help illustrate the importance of marriage equality and/or our experiences of getting married.

Closing arguments for Perry v Schwarzenegger, the federal trial challenging Prop 8, are scheduled for June 16, 2010 at 10:00am in Courtroom 6 on the 17th floor of the Phillip Burton Federal Building at 450 Golden Gate Ave. in SF. There will be no seating available in the courtroom but we can all gather in the overflow room on the 19th floor which is broadcasting the proceedings.

To get tweets and updates from the hearings follow us at
https://twitter.com/MEUSA. At the conclusion of the closing arguments, we will gather at the nearby Chevy's on Van Ness so if you want to join us - stay tuned to the tweets and meet us there. For more information and updates the vigil and court case go to www.marriageequality.org.


* 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM -- Plaintiffs
* 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM -- City and County of San Francisco
* 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM -- Governor, AG, county defendants
* 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM -- Lunch
* 1:00 PM - 3:15 PM -- Proponents
* 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM -- Plaintiffs' rebuttal

Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese M. Stewart will argue for the City and County of San Francisco.

see you there..
Kelly Rivera Hart

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Insights and Links for Nonviolent Civil Disobedience

Hi there..

I wanted to share some insights, quotes and helpful links to nonviolent civil disobedience. It's my wish that you'll be enriched, empowered and motivated to change your world with nonviolence..

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that the philosophy and practice of nonviolence has six basic elements.

First, nonviolence is resistance to evil and oppression. It is a human way to fight.

Second, it does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his/ her friendship and understanding.

Third, the nonviolent method is an attack on the forces of evil rather than against persons doing the evil. It seeks to defeat the evil and not the persons doing the evil and injustice.

Fourth, it is the willingness to accept suffering without retaliation.

Fifth, a nonviolent resister avoids both external physical and internal spiritual violence- not only refuses to shoot, but also to hate, an opponent. The ethic of real love is at the center of nonviolence.

Sixth, the believer in nonviolence has a deep faith in the future and the forces in the universe are seen to be on the side of justice.

"Nonviolent refusal to cooperate with injustice is the way
to defeat it.”

--Mahatma Gandhi

"Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for
the timid or weak... Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness
to sacrifice. It is the patience to win.”

--Cesar Chavez

Nonviolent Civil Disobedience as described by the Nonviolence Training Project in Australia:

“Nonviolence is often described as the ‘politics of ordinary people’. As a means of radical social change, nonviolence draws on a rich history of people’s struggles from around the world. Grassroots people’s movements have brought down dictators, stopped armies, undermined corporations and halted entire industries with nonviolent resistance. Nonviolence can be applied personally as a way of life, or collectively as a method of transforming conflict and building peace.

As a strategic and grassroots approach to social change, nonviolent campaigns apply a huge array of creative protest actions, mass non-cooperation and nonviolent interventions with the aim of redistributing power in society. Revolutionary nonviolence aims to create conditions for just, peaceful and sustainable societies that meet the needs of all people. At its core is a recognition of the shared humanity of all people and the value of life itself.”



Some important links for nonviolent civil disobedience:


http://www.soulforce.org/wp/


http://www.nonviolencetraining.org/Training/nonviolence.htm



http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/HistoryNV.html


http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/PracticingNV.html


http://www.actupny.org/documents/CDdocuments/Affinity.html



take care

Kelly Rivera Hart


198 Ways to Stand For Your Rights..

Hi there..

With the law passing in AZ calling for racial profiling, with the hold up of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, with so many of us still living as second-class citizens, let's explore the many ways to say "Hell no, We won't take it anymore."


198 Methods of Nonviolent Protest and Persuasion

by Gene Sharp

FORMAL STATEMENTS
1. Public speeches
2. Letters of opposition or support
3. Declarations by organizations and institutions
4. Signed public declarations
5. Declarations of indictment and intention
6. Group or mass petitions

COMMUNICATIONS WITH A WIDER AUDIENCE
7. Slogans, caricatures, and symbols
8. Banners, posters, and displayed communications
9. Leaflets, pamphlets, and books
10. Newspapers and journals
11. Records, radio, and television
12. Skywriting and earthwriting

GROUP REPRESENTATIONS
13. Deputations
14. Mock awards
15. Group lobbying
16. Picketing
17. Mock elections

SYMBOLIC PUBLIC ACTS
18. Displays of flags and symbolic colors
19. Wearing of symbols
20. Prayer and worship
21. Delivering symbolic objects
22. Protest disrobings
23. Destruction of own property
24. Symbolic lights
25. Displays of portraits
26. Paint as protest
27. New signs and names
28. Symbolic sounds
29. Symbolic reclamations
30. Rude gestures

PRESSURES ON INDIVIDUALS
31. "Haunting" officials
32. Taunting officials
33. Fraternization
34. Vigils

DRAMA AND MUSIC
35. Humorous skits and pranks
36. Performances of plays and music
37. Singing

PROCESSIONS
38. Marches
39. Parades
40. Religious processions
41. Pilgrimages
42. Motorcades

HONORING THE DEAD
43. Political mourning
44. Mock funerals
45. Demonstrative funerals
46. Homage at burial places

PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES
47. Assemblies of protest or support
48. Protest meetings
49. Camouflaged meetings of protest
50. Teach-ins

WITHDRAWAL AND RENUNCIATION
51. Walk-outs
52. Silence
53. Renouncing honours
54. Turning one's back

THE METHODS OF SOCIAL NONCOOPERATION

OSTRACISM OF PERSONS
55. Social boycott
56. Selective social boycott
57. Lysistratic nonaction
58. Excommunication
59. Interdict

NONCOOPERATION WITH SOCIAL EVENTS, CUSTOMS, AND INSTITUTIONS
60. Suspension of social and sports activities
61. Boycott of social affairs
62. Student strike
63. Social disobedience
64. Withdrawal from social institutions

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE SOCIAL SYSTEM
65. Stay-at-home
66. Total personal noncooperation
67. "Flight" of workers
68. Sanctuary
69. Collective disappearance
70. Protest emigration (hijrat)

ECONOMIC NONCOOPERATION

ACTION BY CONSUMERS
71. Consumers' boycott
72. Nonconsumption of boycotted goods
73. Policy of austerity
74. Rent withholding
75. Refusal to rent
76. National consumers' boycott
77. International consumers' boycott

ACTION BY WORKERS AND PRODUCERS
78. Workers' boycott
79. Producers' boycott

ACTION BY MIDDLE-PEOPLE
80. Suppliers' and handlers' boycott

ACTION BY OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
81. Traders' boycott
82. Refusal to let or sell property
83. Lockout
84. Refusal of industrial assistance
85. Merchants' "general strike"

ACTION BY HOLDERS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES
86. Withdrawal of bank deposits
87. Refusal to pay fees, dues, and assessments
88. Refusal to pay debts or interest
89. Severance of funds and credit
90. Revenue refusal
91. Refusal of a government's money

ACTION BY GOVERNMENTS
92. Domestic embargo
93. Blacklisting of traders
94. International sellers' embargo
95. International buyers' embargo
96. International trade embargo

THE METHODS OF ECONOMIC NONCOOOPERATION

SYMBOLIC STRIKES
97. Protest strike
98. Quickie walkout (lightning strike)

AGRICULTURAL STRIKES
99. Peasant strike
100. Farm workers' strike

STRIKES BY SPECIAL GROUPS
101. Refusal of impressed labor
102. Prisoners' strike
103. Craft strike
104. Professional strike

ORDINARY INDUSTRIAL STRIKES
105. Establishment strike
106. Industry strike
107. Sympathy strike

RESTRICTED STRIKES
108. Detailed strike
109. Bumper strike
110. Slowdown strike
111. Working-to-rule strike
112. Reporting "sick." (sick-in)
113. Strike by resignation
114. Limited strike
115. Selective strike

MULTI-INDUSTRY STRIKES
116. Generalised strike
117. General strike

COMBINATION OF STRIKES AND ECONOMIC CLOSURES
118. Hartal
119. Economic shutdown

THE METHODS OF POLITICAL NONCOOPERATION

REJECTION OF AUTHORITY
120. Withholding or withdrawal of allegiance
121. Refusal of public support
122. Literature and speeches advocating resistance

CITIZENS' NONCOOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT
123. Boycott of legislative bodies
124. Boycott of elections
125. Boycott of government employment and positions
126. Boycott of government departments, agencies, and other bodies
127. Withdrawal from governmental educational institutions
128. Boycott of government-supported institutions
129. Refusal of assistance to enforcement agents
130. Removal of own signs and placemarks
131. Refusal to accept appointed officials
132. Refusal to dissolve existing institutions

CITIZENS' ALTERNATIVES TO OBEDIENCE
133. Reluctant and slow compliance
134. Nonobedience in absence of direct supervision
135. Popular nonobedience
136. Disguised disobedience
137. Refusal of an assemblage or meeting to disperse
138. Sitdown
139. Noncooperation with conscription and deportation
140. Hiding, escape, and false identities
141. Civil disobedience of "illegitimate" laws

ACTION BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL
142. Selective refusal of assistance by government aides
143. Blocking of lines of command and information
144. Stalling and obstruction
145. General administrative noncooperation
146. Judicial noncooperation
147. Deliberate inefficiency and selective noncooperation by enforcement agents
148. Mutiny

DOMESTIC GOVERNMENTAL ACTION
149. Quasi-legal evasions and delays
150. Noncooperation by constituent governmental units

INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTION
151. Changes in diplomatic and other representation
152. Delay and cancellation of diplomatic events
153. Withholding of diplomatic recognition
154. Severance of diplomatic relations
155. Withdrawal from international organizations
156. Refusal of membership in international bodies
157. Expulsion from international organisations

THE METHODS OF NONVIOLENT INTERVENTION

PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION
158. Self-exposure to the elements
159. The fast (fast of moral pressure, hunger strike, satyagrahic fast)
160. Reverse trial
161. Nonviolent harassment

PHYSICAL INTERVENTION
162. Sit-in
163. Stand-in
164. Ride-in
165. Wade-in
166. Mill-in
167. Pray-in
168. Nonviolent raids
169. Nonviolent air raids
170. Nonviolent invasion
171. Nonviolent interjection
172. Nonviolent obstruction
173. Nonviolent occupation

SOCIAL INTERVENTION
174. Establishing new social patterns
175. Overloading of facilities
176. Stall-in
177. Speak-in
178. Guerrilla theatre
179. Alternative social institutions
180. Alternative communication system

ECONOMIC INTERVENTION
181. Reverse strike
182. Stay-in strike
183. Nonviolent land seizure
184. Defiance of blockades
185. Politically motivated counterfeiting
186. Preclusive purchasing
187. Seizure of assets
188. Dumping
189. Selective patronage
190. Alternative markets
191. Alternative transportation systems
192. Alternative economic institutions

POLITICAL INTERVENTION
193. Overloading of administrative systems
194. Disclosing identities of secret agents
195. Seeking imprisonment
196. Civil disobedience of "neutral" laws
197. Work-on without collaboration
198. Dual sovereignty and parallel government

From NonViolence 101

Hi there

Here's some of the info that I'm putting together for a basics on nonviolence, Nonviolence 101..

We can change the world, all it takes is you..

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that the philosophy and practice of nonviolence has six basic elements.

First, nonviolence is resistance to evil and oppression. It is a human way to fight.

Second, it does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his/ her friendship and understanding.

Third, the nonviolent method is an attack on the forces of evil rather than against persons doing the evil. It seeks to defeat the evil and not the persons doing the evil and injustice.

Fourth, it is the willingness to accept suffering without retaliation.

Fifth, a nonviolent resister avoids both external physical and internal spiritual violence- not only refuses to shoot, but also to hate, an opponent. The ethic of real love is at the center of nonviolence.

Sixth, the believer in nonviolence has a deep faith in the future and the forces in the universe are seen to be on the side of justice.

"Nonviolent refusal to cooperate with injustice is the way
to defeat it.”

--Mahatma Gandhi

"Non-violence is not inaction. It is not discussion. It is not for
the timid or weak... Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness
to sacrifice. It is the patience to win.”

--Cesar Chavez

take care

Kelly Rivera Hart

The Hope speech from Harvey Milk

Hi there

Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio there is a young gay person who all the sudden realizes that he or she is gay; knows that if their parents find out they will be tossed out of the house, their classmates will taunt the child, and the Anita Bryant's and John Briggs' are doing their part on TV. And that child has several options: staying in the closet, and suicide. And then one day that child might open the paper that says "Homosexual elected in San Francisco" and there are two new options: the option is to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight. Two days after I was elected I got a phone call and the voice was quite young. It was from Altoona, Pennsylvania. And the person said "Thanks". And you've got to elect gay people, so that thousand upon thousands like that child know that there is hope for a better world; there is hope for a better tomorrow. Without hope, not only gays, but those who are blacks, the Asians, the disabled, the seniors, the us's: without hope the us's give up. I know that you can't live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living. And you, and you, and you, and you have got to give them hope."
-Harvey Milk, 1978


Keep giving and living in the hope...

Kelly Rivera Hart