Commissioner Ramirez: street says ‘Welcome home Harvey, and job well done’

By Ashley Mackin | SDUN Editor

San Diego became the first city in the nation to honor Harvey Milk by naming a street after the slain civil rights leader. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The dedication took place Tuesday, May 22, acknowledged as Harvey Milk Day, which would have been Milk’s 82nd birthday.

Formerly called Blaine Avenue, the street spans two blocks between Cleveland Avenue and Centre Street, parallel to University Avenue in Hillcrest. It was renamed at a ceremony featuring speakers from local government, leaders in the LGBT community and Milk’s nephew and chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation, Stuart Milk.

“Today, our community is making history by naming the first street in the world for the civil rights hero, LGBT pioneer and American icon, Harvey Milk,” said District Three Councilmember Todd Gloria at the unveiling.

City Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez said Harvey Milk was stationed in San Diego while serving in the Navy and was honorably discharged at the rank of lieutenant. Ramirez said Harvey Milk was “concerned not only about the civil rights of gays and lesbians but the struggle of the farm workers; the hardships of seniors and the elderly; the plight of women; [and] the struggle of small business owners.”

Ramirez, along with several other speakers, recognized Harvey Milk as a civil rights leader for the LGBT community and beyond. “Harvey Milk is a true American civil rights icon and hero for all people believing in social justice,” he said. “Not only a hero in our great nation, but a hero that is emerging as a symbol around the world and we in San Diego have honored his memory the most of any city.”

Several speakers called San Diego an appropriate place for the street, and Gloria said the City Council unanimously voted to approve the renaming. The Council vote occurred just two weeks before the street dedication, on May 8.

During his speech, Ramirez also said a comment of thanks to the residents of the street for supporting the name change when it was proposed, and the two churches that did not fight the decision when it was made.

Gloria said, “I am so proud that this is happening in Council District Three, where else could we have done it? I am thrilled that there is a street [named for Harvey Milk] in Hillcrest, the historic home to San Diego’s LGBT community.”

Additionally, Gloria credited Council President Tony Young with getting the item on the docket for the City Council’s agenda in time to be unveiled on Harvey Milk Day.

Young said, “Today we are going to name a street after an incredible person that really reflects the values of this great nation, which is about equality, perseverance, about believing in yourself and believing in each other. … This is a great day for Hillcrest and a great day for San Diego.”

Stuart Milk also spoke at the unveiling, and said he was in Long Beach, Calif. earlier that day speaking with that city’s mayor, Bob Foster. “The first thing [Foster] said was that he wanted to thank the example [set by] San Diego and the example of San Diego in leading, not only the nation, [but] the world in establishing a Harvey Milk Street that will be an inspiration to anyone who feels different [or] anyone who feels left out,” Stuart Milk said.

He added, “I can’t tell you the honor and privilege it is to be in San Diego because this is a community that is truly cohesive and is truly living the legendary message that my uncle gave, which it to keep hope alive.”

During his speech, Dwayne Crenshaw, executive director of San Diego LGBT Pride, emphasized the importance of the street in maintaining Harvey Milk’s famous message of ‘You’ve got to give them hope.’

“I like the idea that the young person walking from the post office … [and] walking down the streets past churches that have sometimes taught hate, but that have supported this project, into the doors of The [LGBT] Center to look up and see Harvey Milk Street and have hope that it gets better,” he said.

Delores Jacobs, CEO of The Center, closed the ceremony and signaled Stuart Milk and Gloria to pull the string, which would unveil the new street sign.

Ramirez said, “By dedicating this street in his honor, we are saying, ‘Welcome back home Harvey and job well done.’”