If you Google the Rev. Troy Perry and Phil Wilson you will immediately know why they will both be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the eighth annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast to be held Thursday, May 21 at the Hilton Hotel by the Bay.
Rev. Troy Perry is the founder of the worldwide Metropolitan Community Church and is a recognized gay pioneering activist leader and icon since the 1960s. He is also an author and was the subject of a biography film.
Phil Wilson has been a gay African American activist for decades and is considered one of the best-known and recognized HIV/AIDS advocates in the world. Recently, Phil was on an HBO special about AMFAR, where he was filmed at the home of actor/director Woody Allan.
I’ve known these two remarkable Americans for decades and, let me tell you, they are truly motivational orators and I am sure their remarks at the Milk Breakfast will be inspiring and some of the best speeches ever given at this annual event.
Mark your calendar for May 21, as it will be another great and memorable event.
Bayard Rustin in Selma movie
Though it is not a very big portrayal, 1960s black civil rights leader Bayard Rustin is in the movie Selma. Rustin, who was an out of the closet “homosexual” was a top advisor and mentor to the Rev. Martin Luther King and he was actually the man who came up with the idea of a National March on Washington and was, in fact, the executive director of this historic march.
I actually got to meet Bayard Rustin at one of the gay Marches on Washington but did not know who he really was and what a historic figure he would turn out to be.
I am also honored to be the chair and founder of the ongoing National Campaign to get the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp in his memory.
Now about the film Selma; every person living in the USA should see this movie as this important part of our nation’s history is forgotten and this awful chapter in our history should never be forgotten. I urge you all to see this movie!
1989: First gay contingent in King Parade
San Diego’s annual Martin Luther King Parade is the biggest civil rights parade in our city and in 1989 the first ever GLBT contingent marched in the parade sponsored by the then Harvey Milk Democratic Club of San Diego.
We who marched will never forget that day as though we were received mostly in a positive and welcoming manner by the thousands of San Diegans lining the streets in downtown , there was quite a few hostile and negative remarks and jeers along the parade march and, yes, a lot of shocked faces!
I remember organizing and entering our contingent and welcoming any GLBT San Diegans to march with us, and many were sadly afraid.
Among those who marched in this first historic GLBT contingent were some of our community leaders who are no longer with us; the late Gloria Johnson (past president of NOW), Albert Bell (founder of ACT-UP), Jim Cua (past president of the Harvey Milk Club) and Atty. Tom Homann. Boy, do I miss them all.
Also marching in the contingent was the Rev. David Farrell (MCC Church), Andrea Villa, Adam Guerrero, Rev. Pat Rocco, Frank Stirriti, Roger Dennehy, Al Best (first openly gay candidate for office in San Diego) and many more.
I recently discovered a picture of us at the 1989 King march and here it is!
Phill.