Saturday, December 11, 2010

Cleve Jones - "Harvey Milk Would Be Horrified To See HRC In His Castro Store!"

1 comment:

Jerry Pritikin said...

I disagree with Jones about what Harvey Milk's reactions would be to the HRC moving into his old camera shop location. I do not like some of the programs of the HRC, especially their Black-Tie events, that gay students, seniors or the average gay hourly paid worker are priced out of attending. And last year when the HRC left the trans-gender segment of our community off their "Rights" agenda. However, I rather have them then a franchise coffee shop or x-rated magazine store. I believe that the HRC will atone for their past mistakes. Ironically, the HRC sent me an email a month ago, asking for permission to use my copyrighted Iconic Image of Harvey. I knew Harvey, and was also involved in the early 1970s gay rights movement. What most people are not aware of, is the fact that Harvey had to move from his store in the beginning of 1978, when his gay landlord, Paul Langley raised his rent almost a thousand bucks... and in the 1980s, Langley raised the rent of the well known Elephant Walk Bar at 18th and Castro from $6,000. to 12,000 a month,and forced them out of business.Langley had the chutzpah to take over the E.W. and rename the bar HARVEY'S! Paul, asked to buy several of my "Milk" images and I refused, because I knew he was the reason Harvey had to move. Since the movie "MILK", millions of people, young and old,gay and Straight, here in America and around the world have been introduced to Harvey, and that era in the gay rights movement, and are aware of the history of his store at 575 Castro. I believe, that the HRC will be a good tenant, and tourist and pilgrims once again will have the opportunity to visit this important landmark in gay history.