Happy Camp'er: December 2008

When I was a young man afflicted by puberty, my sources for information about being gay were primarily through impressions left by sexual abusers, peers, religion, and the newspaper. Initial impressions became the building blocks of my developing self esteem, sexuality, and spirituality.

I remember reading through a Sunday Arkansas Gazette as a boy about 40 guys being arrested in a mall's public restroom. I know the things done to me at an early age didn't give me a positive introduction to sex with a man or what "being gay" meant. There was some uproar about a gay character on a network comedy series. I also recall Tom Brokaw on NBC Nightly News occasionally referring to Harvey Milk, an elected official in San Francisco. His life as it publicly infolded did give me hope. Hope that I could live a full normal happy life as a gay man. There was little evidence in my rural religious culture to suggest it could happen, so Milk directly impacted my life in rural south Arkansas.

In searching for what I could do to make a difference, I came across the documentary The Life & Times of Harvey Milk, which I believe to be a must-see viewing for all the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community. Randy Shilts, himself a gay icon, has a book on Harvey's life. Shows what courage can do.

Milk the movie, opened November 26 staring Sean Penn. It's the 30th anniversary of Milk's assassination. It will open in Little Rock at the Col. Glenn 18 this Friday. It is an important film. Penn is deserving of the Oscar Buzz. Go see it!

Milk is an icon and inspired so many to do something to improve the lives of those gay kids being raised in life-threatening circumstances. I'm amazed almost daily how much better the circumstances seem for rural gay teens. At least there's more hope for happiness. Spend the money for a well-directed, well-acted, well-scripted, important life in world history.

It will not only be seen in Arkansas, it'll be seen in 19 countries across the world. You go Harvey! Since AIDS hit soon after Harvey's assassination, I don't think Milk's life ever got the recognition it deserved. There wasn't time.

Years ago local artist Stephano (who now has a fine arts gallery in the Heights—5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, 501-563-4218). asked for "less than obvious" gay icons for his line of "Pop" art. My dying partner and I talked about it and told him about Harvey Milk and suggested maybe a milk moustache with a "Got Milk?" theme.