PROUD - Harvey Milk Poster

Harvey Milk.
During the 1970s Harvey Milk had already become a prominant personality in San Francisco's Castro District through helping to organise coalitions in the community and to promote equality and fairness for gay Americans during the fledgling gay rights movement. These acts helped to earn him the nickname "The Mayor of Castro Street"...

Milk would rise to even higher prominence, and make history when he become the first openly-gay public official to be elected to office in California, as a member of the Board of Supervisors of the city of San Fransisco.

The historical significance would unfortunately be underscored by tragedy, as ten months after being elected to office, Milk and San Fancisco Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by former city supervisor Dan White, who had clashed with both over a number of issues relating to city management, including White's desire to return to the Board of Supervisors after having resigned only 17 days prior.

In May of 1979, a series of riots took place following the court case against White, which found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter. Despite the violence perpetrated by both the police and the San Franciso gay community, the murder would ultimately have a positive influence on the city, leading to a crackdown on homophobia within the police force, as well as the eventual increase in numbers of gay and lesbian police officers.


Harvey Milk is, without a doubt, one of the most well-known names in regard to the LGBT rights movement, and reading up further on the subject I felt inspired to commit this design to digital canvas.

Photo of Harvey Milk: Daniel Nicoletta
"Hope" poster style: Shepard Fairey
Poster tutorial: VectorTuts