Harvey Milk quotes from Milk (2008)

Harvey Milk

I fully realize that someone who stands for what I stand for... an activist, a gay activist... makes themself a target for someone who is insecure, frightened, terrified, and disturbed themselves. It's a very real possibility you see because — in San Francisco... we have broken the dam of major prejudice in this country.

Harvey Milk

I wish I had time to explain all the things that I did. Almost everything was done with an eye on the gay movement.

Harvey Milk

Forty years old — and I haven't done a thing that I'm proud of.

Harvey Milk

We need one of our own in office.

Harvey Milk

I'm not the candidate. I'm part of a movement. The movement is the candidate - there is a difference. You don't see it. I do.

Harvey Milk

How do you "teach" homosexuality? Is it like French?

Harvey Milk

I'm not gonna let those Pacific Heights biddies write me off because of a ponytail. And I like it. No more pot, no more bathhouses for me and my little poo.

Harvey Milk

I don't think state assembly seats should be the reward for service to the Democratic Party machine. Machines run on oil and grease. They're dirty, they're dehumanizing, and they tend to be entirely unresponsive to the needs of anybody but those of their operator.

Harvey Milk

I don't want to see another sign that says **** "Machine" on it because this three-time "**** loser" is running for Supervisor.

Harvey Milk

I know you're angry! (cheers) I'm angry! Let us march the streets of San Francisco and share our anger!

Harvey Milk

March them right up to the steps of City Hall. When things start to look really bad- the city's first gay supervisor... will come out and play peacemaker. Do it with me. (Gives Cleve the bullhorn)

Harvey Milk

My name is Harvey Milk and I'm here to recruit you. I want to recruit you for the fight to preserve your democracy. Brothers and sisters, you must come out! Come out to your parents, come out to your friends, if indeed they are your friends. Come out to your neighbors, come out to your fellow workers. Once and for all, let's break down the myths and destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake, for their sake. For the sake of all the youngsters who have been scared by the votes from Dade to Eugene. On the Statue of Liberty it says, 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free.' In the Declaration of Independence, it is written, 'All men are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights.' So for Mr. Briggs and Mrs. Bryant, and all the bigots out there, no matter how hard you try, you can never erase those words from the Declaration of Independence! No matter how hard you try, you can never chip those words from the base of the Statue of Liberty! That is where America is! Love it or leave it!

Harvey Milk

This is shit. Shit and masturbation. This is just a coward's response to a dangerous threat.

Harvey Milk

Tonight, it's become clear to everyone out there that they do know one of us, and now that they do, they can see that we are not sick. They can feel that we are not wrong. And they know that there must be, that there should be a place for us in this great country, in this world. A message of hope has been sent to all those young people, to all of those who have been afraid by this wave of hate, to all of those who have lost their homes, lost their hometowns. Tonight, we are clear that there is a place for us! My brothers and sisters, we can come home again.

Harvey Milk

Without hope, life's not worth living. So you, and you, and you... You gotta give 'em hope.

Society can't exist without the family.

Harvey Milk

We're not against that.

Can two men reproduce?

Harvey Milk

No, but God knows we keep trying.

Are you on uppers or something?

Harvey Milk

No, this is just plain old me.

You have an issue.

Harvey Milk

It's more than just an issue. This is our lives we're fighting for.