Harvey Milk among Medal of Freedom honorees

Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

Thursday, July 30, 2009

(07-30) 19:44 PDT -- President Obama said today he will bestow the nation's highest civilian honor on slain San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, making him the first openly gay civil rights leader to receive the award and drawing praise from activists who have criticized Obama for shortchanging their cause.

The president named Milk and tennis great Billie Jean King - the first openly lesbian athlete of prominence - among 16 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actors Sidney Poitier and Chita Rivera, the late Congressman Jack Kemp and U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy.

The president's decision to honor Milk and King comes as gay-rights leaders have criticized the president for not pushing to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military and for failing to act aggressively enough to undo the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that does not recognize same-sex marriage.

Milk, whose life was the subject of a Hollywood film last year, was elected to the city's Board of Supervisors in 1977, becoming the first openly gay politician elected in a major U.S. city. He and then-San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated a year later by former Supervisor Dan White.

"Milk encouraged lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens to live their lives openly and believed coming out was the only way they could change society and achieve social equality," the White House said in announcing the honor.

Gloria Nieto, a lesbian activist who has chaired the Democratic National Committee's gay and lesbian caucus, said the LGBT community recognizes that "it's a movement ... and sometimes it's two steps forward, one step back."

Obama's decision to include Milk among the award recipients, she said, was a step in the right direction, and sent the message "that our leaders are equal to Desmond Tutu and others who have made huge contributions to the world, as Harvey and Billie Jean did."

Obama will present the awards on Aug. 12.

State Sen. Tom Ammiano, a former San Francisco supervisor who is gay, said he was thrilled at Obama's recognition of Milk.

"In the context of everything that is happening with regard to 'don't ask, don't tell" and (the federal marriage law), this is a good gesture for him politically," Ammiano said.

But he added: "If Harvey was alive today, he would say, 'Thanks for the honor - now repeal those bills.' "

In California, the president's move could pressure Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a bill, approved by the Legislature, that calls for the creation of a state "day of significance" that honors Milk on his birthday, May 22.

Schwarzenegger earlier this year vetoed the legislation by State Sen. Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, saying celebration of Milk's life should be "at the local level."

Given Obama's action, Leno said, "I hope the governor is attentive and will recognize that (the story of Harvey Milk) is not a San Francisco story. This is a humanitarian story."

E-mail Carla Marinucci at cmainucci@sfchronicle.com.

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