The 1984-A-Thon: The Times of Harvey Milk

Today was a very special day to wake up to, even as someone who doesn’t live in the United States. Today was the day when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that same-sex couples are able to marry the people they love, nation-wide. This is a huge step forward towards equal rights for LGBT* people, even though there is more work to be done. I feel a mixture between extreme happiness today, and extreme sadness and frustration that my own country hasn’t been able to make this happen yet.

In honour of this special day, I thought I’d reblog a review I wrote last year on a documentary about Harvey Milk, the man who fought for the rights of marginalised groups, particularly gay people, in 1970s San Francisco. A truly excellent documentary about a person who played a key part in the fight for equal rights which resulted in the landmark ruling passed down today.

FILM GRIMOIRE

Directed by Rob Epstein, and winner of the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1984, The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) tells the story of a man who has become a symbol and an inspiration in the fight for the human rights of marginalised groups, after his untimely death at the hands of a political rival. Harvey Milk was just 48 when he was shot and killed at his office by Dan White, a former fellow District Supervisor of San Francisco. This documentary tells the story of Harvey’s life, his rise to political power, the causes that he fought so hard for, his murder, and the aftermath of his death. Found to be culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant at the United States Library of Congress, it is an incredibly powerful documentary about someone who fought tirelessly for the the rights of others.