When the movie, Milk, first premiered back in 2008, I was eager to see it, but never found the opportunity to actually go to the movies and watch it. When the opportunity presented itself to watch the movie as one of the many events taking place at GMU for Pride Week, I decided that this would be the best chance for me to watch this seemingly powerful movie. I hadn't heard of Harvey Milk prior to the making of this movie and the only thing I knew about it was that Sean Penn had a riveting performance and won an award. With that said, I entered the Cinema with my snacks, an open-mind, and ready to be "moved" in someway. This movie certainly didn't disappoint.
The movie opens up with Sean Penn's character, Harvey Milk, having a very intimate moment with his partner: they shared a passionate kiss. While I watched for the reaction of the other viewers, I was most shocked by my initial reaction. I would consider myself an ally and an advocate for gay rights, which I firmly believe is a civil rights issue. As long as I can remember, I've been surrounded by the gay community as my mother has had several close friends who identified as LGBTQQA. I've also had close friends of my own who were apart of this group. They are apart of my life as any of my other friends who are heterosexual. However, when I saw Milk share an intimate moment with his partner, I closed my eyes and put my head down. I wasn't quite sure why I had this reaction. Here I was, looking for others to react in a way that might reveal their bias and discomfort, and I, inadvertedly, showed mine. Once I recognized it as such, I was angry with myself. It made me question whether or not I am who I say I am: an ally and advocate for the gay community. After beating myself up for awhile, I realized that I'm just a product of what I am exposed to, right or wrong. When I turn on the radio, watch television, go out to dinner, etc. I am bombarded with images of heterosexual couples sharing intimate moments. Rarely do I see homosexuals outwardly displaying such affection. But it is my fault if I do not educate myself and allow myself to feel fully comfortable with all aspects of their lives. Until then, I am not as far as I would like to be.
As the movie progressed, I enjoyed Milk's strength and tenacity to change what he deemed wrong. There was a scene in the movie where he was trying to get a magazine's endorsement for his campaign, and the editor was trying to convince Milk to remain silent and not proceed forth with his political goals. Milk stormed away from the meeting and said "I'm not just a candidate. I am a movement." That line was very powerful for me because he felt as though he represented his community and he certainly embodied that. He took on their plights, triumphs, anxiety, happiness, and worries. He was them! I really appreciated that about Milk. But yet, as we have seen in so many situations, his "movement" was cut short by an assassin's bullet and we, not just California or the gay community, but as a society, have lost a powerful voice and fixture in our quest to be a more acceptable and just country. He was not only the "Mayor of Castro Street." He should be considered the "Mayor of Every Street" because his fight for all people should be praised.
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