Harvey Milk Forever Stamp

Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is a United States Postal Service commemorative stamp honoring the life and legacy of Harvey Milk, a San Francisco California State Assembly member and LGBT rights activist, who was assassinated in 1978. The stamp was designed by Jim Lange and features a portrait of Harvey Milk based on a 1977 photograph taken by Daniel Nicoletta. The stamp is part of the USPS's Forever Stamp series, which can be used to mail a one-ounce letter regardless of future price changes, similar to other Forever Stamps honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Cesar Chavez. The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp was released on May 22, 2014, at the Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco, California, with Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer in attendance.

● Introduction

The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is a significant milestone in the recognition of LGBT rights in the United States, following the footsteps of other notable LGBT activists such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Harry Hay. The stamp's release coincided with the 40th anniversary of Harvey Milk's election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the 35th anniversary of his assassination, which was also commemorated by the Harvey Milk Memorial Foundation and the GLBT Historical Society. The USPS has a long history of issuing commemorative stamps honoring notable figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as events like the Moon landing and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is part of this tradition, recognizing the contributions of Harvey Milk to the LGBT rights movement and his impact on American history, alongside other notable LGBT figures such as Larry Kramer, Edie Windsor, and Bayard Rustin.

● Design and Release

The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp features a portrait of Harvey Milk based on a 1977 photograph taken by Daniel Nicoletta, which was also used in the 2008 film Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn as Harvey Milk. The stamp was designed by Jim Lange, who has also designed stamps honoring Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, and Langston Hughes. The stamp's design was unveiled on May 21, 2014, at the Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco, California, with Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer in attendance, as well as Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's nephew and founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation. The stamp was released on May 22, 2014, and was available for purchase at USPS locations nationwide, including the James A. Farley Post Office in New York City and the San Francisco Post Office.

● Background and Significance

The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is significant not only because it honors the life and legacy of Harvey Milk, but also because it recognizes the importance of LGBT rights in American history. Harvey Milk was a pioneering figure in the LGBT rights movement, and his election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 was a major milestone in the fight for LGBT equality. The stamp's release coincided with the 40th anniversary of Harvey Milk's election and the 35th anniversary of his assassination, which was also commemorated by the Human Rights Campaign, the National LGBTQ Task Force, and the GLAAD. The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is part of a larger effort to recognize the contributions of LGBT individuals to American history, including the Stonewall riots, the Mattachine Society, and the Daughters of Bilitis.

● Issuance and Reception

The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp was issued on May 22, 2014, with a first-day ceremony at the Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco, California. The ceremony was attended by Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, and Barbara Boxer, as well as Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's nephew and founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation. The stamp was well-received by the LGBT community and LGBT rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National LGBTQ Task Force, and the GLAAD. The stamp's release was also covered by major news outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, as well as LGBT-focused publications like The Advocate and Out Magazine.

● Legacy and Impact

The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is a lasting tribute to the life and legacy of Harvey Milk and his contributions to the LGBT rights movement. The stamp's release has helped to raise awareness about LGBT rights and the importance of LGBT equality in American society, following in the footsteps of other notable LGBT activists such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Harry Hay. The stamp has also inspired a new generation of LGBT activists and allies, including Sarah McBride, Jennicet Gutiérrez, and Ashlee Marie Preston, to continue the fight for LGBT equality and social justice. The Harvey Milk Forever Stamp is a reminder of the power of activism and the importance of recognizing and honoring the contributions of LGBT individuals to American history, alongside other notable LGBT figures such as Larry Kramer, Edie Windsor, and Bayard Rustin. Category:USPS