Order of events for the Harvey Milk assembly • Assembly begins with kindergartners sitting on steps. • Introduction by student • Kindergartners recite their poem and leave the stage. • 5th graders’ slide show about Harvey Milk’s life • 3rd grade class sings • Student shares an excerpt from Milk’s “Hope speech” • 4th graders sing • Teachers speech Student 1 Introduction Welcome students of (School Name). Today we will tell you about Harvey Milk, the first gay City Hall supervisor. He has changed many people’s lives that are gay or lesbian. People respect him because he stood up for gay and lesbian people. He is remembered for changing our country, and he is a hero to gay and lesbian people. Fifth Grade Class Slide Show When Harvey Milk was a little boy he loved to be the center of attention. Growing up, Harvey was a pretty normal boy, doing things that all boys do. Harvey was very popular in school and had many friends. However, he hid from everyone a very troubling secret. Harvey Milk was homosexual. Being gay wasn’t very easy back in those days. For an example, Harvey Milk and Joe Campbell had to keep a secret of their gay relationship for six years. Sadly, they broke up because of stress. But Harvey Milk was still looking for a spouse. Eventually, Harvey Milk met Scott Smith and fell in love. Harvey and Scott moved together to the Castro neighborhood of San Francisco, which was a haven for people who were gay, a place where they were respected more easily. Harvey and Scott opened a store called Castro Camera and lived on the top floor. Not only was Castro Camera a place to develop photos, it was like a community center. People from all around the Castro neighborhood came to Castro Camera to talk with Harvey Milk about discrimination against gay people in finding jobs and buying homes. Harvey listened to their problems and tried to reassure them and look for solutions. Since Harvey Milk was becoming a gay leader, he decided that he wanted to run for City Council. A lot of people supported him, especially an eleven‐year old girl Medora Payne. Harvey had to try 3 times to get elected. Finally, the 4th time he got elected. In 1978, thanks to Harvey, gay people got new laws to protect them from discrimination. People celebrated with a parade and Harvey Milk was grateful. Because he was gay, one of the other City Hall supervisors did not like Harvey Milk. So, late one night he snuck into City Hall and shot George Moscone and Harvey Milk. His name was Dan White. That same night everyone walked to City Hall holding candles. Still every year people march with candles as a blessing for Harvey Milk. Now San Francisco City Hall has a statue of Harvey Milk himself. Harvey was never forgotten. He lives on as an ally for gay and lesbian people. Student shares an excerpt from Milk’s “Hope speech” ­I’m going to read you a part of Harvey Milk’s famous “Hope speech.” When I point to you, you say “hope” and I’ll finish the sentence. When I point to you again, you say “hope” and I’ll finish the sentence. Let’s practice once. [point]. Let’s try again. [point]. Great, let’s start. It is important that gay people run for office and that gay people get elected. Like every other group, we must be judged by our leaders and by those who are themselves gay, who are visible. A gay person in office can set a tone, can command respect not only from the larger community, but from the young people in our own community who need both examples and hope. The first gay people we elect must be strong. They must not be content to sit in the back of the bus. I can’t forget the looks on faces of people who have lost hope. Be they gay, be they seniors, be they blacks looking for a job, be they Latinos trying to explain their problems and dreams in a tongue that’s foreign to them. People are strong, but they need hope. You have to give them hope for a better world. Hope for a better tomorrow. Hope for a better place to come to if the pressures at home are too great. Hope that all will be all right. You have to give people hope. Thank you very much. .