The Hill: Dem marks Harvey Milk day on House floor
Freshman Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) on Tuesday marked Harvey Milk day, which is tomorrow, by reading a famous speech on the House floor from Milk, the first openly gay person to win election in California.
Takano, the first openly gay non-white member of Congress in U.S. history, recalled Milk's comments that the election of gay people helps bring hope to gay children across the country.
"Two days after I was elected, I got a phone call, and the voice was quite young," Takano said as he read Milk's speech. "It was from Altoona, Pa. And the person said, 'Thanks.'
"You've got to elect gay people so that thousands upon thousands like that child know that there is a hope for a better world. There is hope for a better tomorrow."
Milk said thousand of children are going through the process of realizing they are gay and worry that they will get thrown out of the house or taunted at school.
"And then one day, that child might open the paper that says 'homosexual elected in San Francisco,'" Takano said, quoting Milk. "And there are two new options. The options to go to California, or stay in San Antonio and fight.