WASHINGTON (JTA) — The White House will dedicate a Harvey Milk stamp on its first day of issue.
The “forever” stamp – valid for first class postage even in the event of price hikes – will be issued May 22, the White House said Thursday in a statement.
It features a photo of Milk, a Jew and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, taken in 1977, the year he made history when he became the first openly gay elected official from a major city in the United States.
“Milk’s achievements gave hope and confidence to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community in the United States and elsewhere at a time when the community was encountering widespread hostility and discrimination,” the U.S. postal service said in a statement.
In November 1978, Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot and killed by a former colleague of Milk’s on the Board of Supervisors.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.