Harvey Milk Day

Watch: Gays Reenact Harvey Milk’s Famous “Hope” Speech

On what would have been Harvey Milk’s 83rd birthday, gays around the nation remember how politician gave them hope. Earlier in the week, San Francisco city officials organized a reenactment of his famous “You’ve Got to Have Hope” speech. Originally recited on June 24, 1977 to kick-off his third bid for supervisor, the speech is a touching reminder of the importance of coming out and electing openly gay officials.

The five participants recruited to recite the speech in the Castro, includes:

– Courtney Walsh and Aaron Wimmer, two actors from Dear Harvey, the recent New Conservatory Theater play about Milk’s life
– Randall Mann, local poet and winner of the 2003 Kenyon Review Prize in Poetry
– Sister Roma, 20-year member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
– Andrea Shorter, lesbian political consultant who serves on the city’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Of course, this is not Harvey Milk’s only famous speech. Check out more powerful statements from the politician.

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