Harvey Milk's Speech at San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day Celebration
6/25/1978
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Harvey Milk gave this rousing speech at San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade in 1978. Subsequently referred to as the "Hope Speech," it became instantly famous and was reported on throughout the United States.
Milk was speaking out against Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative—named after state legislator John Briggs, who sponsored the legislation. Proposition 6 would have banned gay and lesbian individuals from working in California public schools, and made their firing mandatory. Milk campaigned against Proposition 6 throughout California, attending every event Briggs hosted to protest the proposition.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He used his platform as supervisor to promote LGBTQ rights, and other public initiatives such as free public transportation, increased access to affordable child care, and a police oversight committee.
In the Hope Speech, Milk called for his "gay sisters and brothers to make the commitment to fight" against Proposition 6 and other similarly discriminatory legislation in an effort to promote gay rights in California and across the United States. And he challenged Briggs and others to reexamine American history:
In case the President had not read the speech, Milk sent him this copy along with a letter. He hoped that the President would oppose the Briggs Initiative and "take a leadership role in defending the rights of gay people."
President Carter did eventually state his opposition to the Briggs Initiative, citing its potential infringement on individual rights. On November 7, 1978, the proposition was defeated by more than 1 million votes.
Milk was speaking out against Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative—named after state legislator John Briggs, who sponsored the legislation. Proposition 6 would have banned gay and lesbian individuals from working in California public schools, and made their firing mandatory. Milk campaigned against Proposition 6 throughout California, attending every event Briggs hosted to protest the proposition.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He used his platform as supervisor to promote LGBTQ rights, and other public initiatives such as free public transportation, increased access to affordable child care, and a police oversight committee.
In the Hope Speech, Milk called for his "gay sisters and brothers to make the commitment to fight" against Proposition 6 and other similarly discriminatory legislation in an effort to promote gay rights in California and across the United States. And he challenged Briggs and others to reexamine American history:
On the Statue of Liberty it says, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free...." In the Declaration of Independence it is written "All men are created equal and they are endowed with certain inalienable rights...." That’s what America is. No matter how hard you try, you cannot erase those words from the Declaration of Independence. No matter how hard you try, you cannot chip those words from off the base of the Statue of Liberty.Milk also expressed his frustration at the "silence from the White House....There are some 15 to 20 million lesbians and gay men in this country listening and listening very carefully. Jimmy Carter, when are you going to talk about their rights?"
In case the President had not read the speech, Milk sent him this copy along with a letter. He hoped that the President would oppose the Briggs Initiative and "take a leadership role in defending the rights of gay people."
President Carter did eventually state his opposition to the Briggs Initiative, citing its potential infringement on individual rights. On November 7, 1978, the proposition was defeated by more than 1 million votes.
This primary source comes from the Collection JC-1133: Records of the Office of the Assistant for Public Liaison.
National Archives Identifier: 152903
Full Citation: Harvey Milk's Speech at San Francisco's Gay Freedom Day Celebration; 6/25/1978; (Gay Rights--Harvey Milk Speech & Letter) 6/78-7/78 (O/A 5771); Margaret Costanza's Subject Files, 1977 - 1978; Collection JC-1133: Records of the Office of the Assistant for Public Liaison; Jimmy Carter Library, Atlanta, GA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/milk-hope-speech, April 21, 2025]Activities that use this document
- The Long Struggle for LGBTQ+ Civil Rights
Created by the National Archives Education Team
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