‘Milk’ prompts discussion on campus

Panel addresses legacy of Milk, current challenges being faced by LGBTQ community

April 1, 2009
By Amanda Dahlquist
Editor

The critically acclaimed film “Milk” had the campus community buzzing last Friday, as the LGBTQ office sponsored a double showing of the film. A panel discussion featuring local members of the LGBTQ community separated the showings.

“Milk” was nominated for eight Academy Awards. It won two: Best Original Screenplay for Dustin Lance Black and Best Actor in a Leading Role for Sean Penn (center).

“Milk” follows the civic life and assassination of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as well as addressing his personal relationships. Milk was elected in 1977 to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Dan White, who had served along with Milk on the Board, assassinated him and San Francisco mayor George Moscone in 1978. 

“The legacy of Harvey Milk shows how far we’ve come,” stated Kent Delay, a former state representative candidate for Illinois’ 99th district and a panel participant who identified himself as openly gay. 

Shayla Thomas, who identified as transgender, said, “I had never even heard of Harvey Milk when I began my advocacy. That we have heard of him now shows that the only way for things to change is for us to be out there educating people.”

Renee Rathjen, a UIS student, commended Milk’s political actions. “Milk never advocated just for gay men, but for oppressed people.”

The panel discussed the situation in which the LGBTQ community currently finds itself.

“There’s a lot of hope in the Obama administration,” Delay said. Having worked with the president when Obama was in the Senate, Delay mentioned that, “He is as articulate and personable as you see him.”

“Being biracial, he knows discrimination,” Delay added. “I’m optimistic.”

Thomas echoed some of Delay’s hopefulness. “We’re miles ahead of where we were in the old administration.”

However, the economy was a topic of major concern.

“Most of the LGBTQ community makes a lot of money. When businesses recognize that, it supports the economy a lot,” said Thomas. “When I say a lot of money, I mean ‘in the closet’ transgender people, of which there are a lot. It’s hard to get people like lawyers, doctors, et cetera, to come out.”

She added, “The economy is especially hard for the transgender community. It’s hard for them to fit in. There is a high rate of unemployment.”

“We have poor gay people too,” said Rathjen, though many view the LGBTQ community as being advantaged economically.

When asked where policy efforts should be directed, Thomas answered in one word- “Education.”

 “It’s important to have equity in our legal systems,” added Rathjen, citing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, a proposed federal law that prohibits discrimination against employees based on sexual orientation, and hate crime legislation.

According to Thomas, the greatest challenge to the LGBTQ community is society itself. “It’s no one else’s business who someone else is attracted to. Why do we even need gender labels? They are archaic. Our society is so puritanical; we need to put labels on everything. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t be here right now.”

The solution?

An answer suggested echoed one of Milk’s themes—encouraging people to ‘come out’ and have personal conversations with other people.

 “It’s all about building relationships,” said Rathjen.