Proud of unity
What a day! The current executive board of Harvey Milk (Greg Shaw, me, Larry Roberts, John Emery, and Paul Hogarth) and the four past presidents (Michael Goldstein, Robert Haaland, Debra Walker, and Jerry Threet) sponsored a Harvey Milk table at the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club breakfast. We were warmly welcomed, and enjoyed the sense of what Mark Leno has coined a new "Golden Age" in LGBT unity in San Francisco. A great time was had by all. It can be hard to let go of traditions, such as giving up the Milk Club's own Pride Day breakfast tradition, but new traditions are a treat as well. Instead of having a Milk breakfast, we had a post-parade party in collaboration with Pride at Work and SEIU Local 790's Lavender Caucus (more about that later).
The Milk Club marched with Tom Ammiano, a great tradition we did not give up this year. The Pride Committee wanted Tom to be a commentator for the live KRON 4 coverage. The folks at KRON 4 apparently think they have more say over Pride than the Committee does, since they refused to include him. Some marchers made signs telling KRON what they thought, all in language appropriate for TV. Apparently KRON thinks they control the free speech and freedom of expression of the folks marching in the Pride Parade, because as Tom drove up to the cameras, surrounded by supporters holding signs ("Milk supports Tom on KRON" and the like), KRON henchmen came running up to the car and told the folks to take down the signs. The marchers refused. KRON apparently thinks that the live-TV-eight-second-Janet-Jackson-boob-delay is a license to edit live TV, since they cut to a commercial. Yes, live coverage of the parade, cut to commercial. After the commercial, the announcers said something along the lines of "oh, and we just missed Tom Ammiano and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club.....but look--the Altoids float!" I hope more will happen on this issue with the Pride Committee and KRON--censorship, particularly on Pride, is unacceptable.
Milk Club members awaiting our signal to march. Note the Boycott Badlands T-shirts Club members are sporting.
Milk Club member Marilyn Wann making a "Tom on KRON" sign.
Milk Club Treasurer John Emery wearing a March on Washington shirt. Note the guy doing pushups in the back getting pumped up for his ride on the Altoids float.
After being excluded from KRON, Supervisor Ammiano was interviewed by other media.
What I hope will be the first annual Pride at Work, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, SEIU Local 790 Lavender Caucus post-parade party was a success. Everyone got a chance to put their feet up, celebrate with friends, enjoy the amazing view, and discuss the amazing float they'll work on for next year... Assemblymember Mark Leno, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Josie Mooney, ED of SEIU Local 790, Tim Paulson, ED of the SF Labor Council, Co-Chairs of LAGADDA Lisa Williams and George Smith, Laura Spanjian, Co-Chair of the Alice B. Toklas Club, Democratic County Central Committee members Scott Wiener (also Alice co-chair), Robert Haaland, David Campos, Michael Goldstein, Jane Morrison, and former Supervisor Sue Bierman, Police Commissioner Theresa Sparks, Commissioner Janet Reilly, Ethics Commissioner Joe Lynn, Miguel Bustos, Dan Bernal, Julius Turman, Green County Central Committee member Kim Knox,and many long time Milk Club members like Tab Buckner, Rick Hauptman, and Denise D'Anne, and a bunch of others I'm forgetting were there.
If you look for a minute you can see the amazing decorating by the fabulous caterer from Rico's, who donated this cake, which reads "Happy Gay Pride" in pink triangle and rainbow cookies. Yum.
Pride at Work co-chair Sally Buchmann and Pride at Work founder Howard Wallace:
Faye Roe, President of NIA and SEIU Local 790 field representative
Greg Shaw, Mark Leno, Rick Galbraith, and Robert Haaland obeying the photographer's orders.
Greg with new Milk Club members Mirian and Julian from D.C., Dan Bernal, and long-time Milk Club members Jon Daniel and Chuck Bierwith.
Harold Darling and Jane Morrison saying hello.
Alice Co-Chair Scott Wiener and President of the Noe Valley Dem Club Rafael Mandelman
Again, some new traditions that I hope will continue. As many said today, this day was a day to celebrate, but there is still so much to do.
The Milk Club marched with Tom Ammiano, a great tradition we did not give up this year. The Pride Committee wanted Tom to be a commentator for the live KRON 4 coverage. The folks at KRON 4 apparently think they have more say over Pride than the Committee does, since they refused to include him. Some marchers made signs telling KRON what they thought, all in language appropriate for TV. Apparently KRON thinks they control the free speech and freedom of expression of the folks marching in the Pride Parade, because as Tom drove up to the cameras, surrounded by supporters holding signs ("Milk supports Tom on KRON" and the like), KRON henchmen came running up to the car and told the folks to take down the signs. The marchers refused. KRON apparently thinks that the live-TV-eight-second-Janet-Jackson-boob-delay is a license to edit live TV, since they cut to a commercial. Yes, live coverage of the parade, cut to commercial. After the commercial, the announcers said something along the lines of "oh, and we just missed Tom Ammiano and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club.....but look--the Altoids float!" I hope more will happen on this issue with the Pride Committee and KRON--censorship, particularly on Pride, is unacceptable.
Milk Club members awaiting our signal to march. Note the Boycott Badlands T-shirts Club members are sporting.
Milk Club member Marilyn Wann making a "Tom on KRON" sign.
Milk Club Treasurer John Emery wearing a March on Washington shirt. Note the guy doing pushups in the back getting pumped up for his ride on the Altoids float.
After being excluded from KRON, Supervisor Ammiano was interviewed by other media.
What I hope will be the first annual Pride at Work, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, SEIU Local 790 Lavender Caucus post-parade party was a success. Everyone got a chance to put their feet up, celebrate with friends, enjoy the amazing view, and discuss the amazing float they'll work on for next year... Assemblymember Mark Leno, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Josie Mooney, ED of SEIU Local 790, Tim Paulson, ED of the SF Labor Council, Co-Chairs of LAGADDA Lisa Williams and George Smith, Laura Spanjian, Co-Chair of the Alice B. Toklas Club, Democratic County Central Committee members Scott Wiener (also Alice co-chair), Robert Haaland, David Campos, Michael Goldstein, Jane Morrison, and former Supervisor Sue Bierman, Police Commissioner Theresa Sparks, Commissioner Janet Reilly, Ethics Commissioner Joe Lynn, Miguel Bustos, Dan Bernal, Julius Turman, Green County Central Committee member Kim Knox,and many long time Milk Club members like Tab Buckner, Rick Hauptman, and Denise D'Anne, and a bunch of others I'm forgetting were there.
If you look for a minute you can see the amazing decorating by the fabulous caterer from Rico's, who donated this cake, which reads "Happy Gay Pride" in pink triangle and rainbow cookies. Yum.
Pride at Work co-chair Sally Buchmann and Pride at Work founder Howard Wallace:
Faye Roe, President of NIA and SEIU Local 790 field representative
Greg Shaw, Mark Leno, Rick Galbraith, and Robert Haaland obeying the photographer's orders.
Greg with new Milk Club members Mirian and Julian from D.C., Dan Bernal, and long-time Milk Club members Jon Daniel and Chuck Bierwith.
Harold Darling and Jane Morrison saying hello.
Alice Co-Chair Scott Wiener and President of the Noe Valley Dem Club Rafael Mandelman
Again, some new traditions that I hope will continue. As many said today, this day was a day to celebrate, but there is still so much to do.
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