Long Beach opens first park in nation named for gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk

[William769]

LONG BEACH -- The country has changed since the days of Harvey Milk, officials said Tuesday as they gathered for the opening of the first park in the nation named for the gay rights pioneer.

Dignitaries shared memories of a time decades ago when homosexuals were consigned to a mental institution, or forced to submit to electric shock treatment, simply because they were gay.

Others, like some of the first participants in the Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade 30 years ago,

Mayor Bob Foster speaks to community members, and city leaders during a grand opening Tuesday morning for the Harvey Milk "Equality Plaza," located at Third Street and The Promenade. The plaza includes a concrete replica of the soapbox on which Milk stood to inspire crowds when he spoke, and a 20-foot flagpole flying the gay pride flag. (Brittany Murray / Staff Photographer)wore bulletproof vests to guard against threats to their lives.

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_23292295/long-beach-opens-first-park-nation-named-gay

[upaloopa]

1. Kind of puts San Fran to shame

We could of had named SFO after Harvey Milk but it didn't happen

[gopiscrap]

2. Excellent