Harvey Milk: An Unforgettable Gay Icon and 3 Books to Celebrate Him

Picture from Britannica.com

Harvey Milk is a staple name in queer history that most people have heard about. He was at the forefront of the fight for queer rights despite being a political figure and even spearheaded the creation of the notorious queer symbol: the rainbow flag. Reading about him will help you become a better ally and will also help you to understand the foundations of the queer movement.

To celebrate him, I would love to give you 3 book recommendations that are both entertaining and informative regarding this great man.

Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Rob Sanders

This lighthearted picture book depicts the main accomplishments of Harvey Milk in the queer community while also displaying beautiful artwork that gently tells his story.

A Letter to Harvey Milk: Short Stories

Lesléa Newman

A collection of stories inspired by Harvey Milk’s courage, this book particularly touches on homosexuality within the Jewish community which is not a topic most people are well versed in.

Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color

by Gilbert Baker, Dustin Lance Black

This memoir discusses the tensions in the 1950s and reflects on the events in 1994 where Baker, one of the authors, was a part of the historic march of the mile-long rainbow flag in NYC.

Harvey Milk Day is celebrated on May 22nd every year, and you can find more information here: https://gsanetwork.org/resources/harvey-milk-day/

Have you read any of these books? Do you have any recommendations? Leave a comment below!

Article edited by Lola Lujan.