Log Cabin Republicans Blast HRC About Milk's Camera Shop

Log Cabin Republicans of San Francisco and ‘Milk’ Screenwriter Dustin Lance Black React to HRC’s Plan to Turn Harvey Milk’s Camera Shop into a Gift Shop

SAN FRANCISCO – December 8, 2010 – The Log Cabin Republicans of San Francisco, the leading group for LGBT Republicans in the Bay Area, released the following statement in regards to the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) plan to convert the space that was formerly assassinated San Francisco Supervisor and leading gay rights advocate Harvey Milk’s camera shop on Castro Street into a gift shop selling HRC branded items.

“HRC has proven time and again that its main goal is not to advance rights for LGBT Americans but to raise funds amongst the LGBT community for Democratic candidates,” stated LCRSF president Dan Brown.  “Harvey Milk supported both Republican and Democratic candidates throughout his life, and continually sought to reach consensus on both sides of the aisle for the benefit of us all. He tried to get everyone involved in fighting for their rights, whether by volunteering, lobbying, protesting, running for office, talking to friends, coworkers and family, and yes, even fundraising. If HRC, as the largest LGBT rights organization by funding, took a page from Harvey’s book rather than relying on empty promises from elected officials that rarely materialize, then we would be much closer to full equality than we currently are.”

Oscar-winning screenwriter of ‘Milk’ and LGBT rights campaigner Dustin Lance Black also commented: “Harvey Milk spent the last years of his life fighting not only for rights for gays and lesbians across the nation, but also against the idea that the only way to achieve those rights is to lobby the government and financially support so-called ‘straight allies’. Harvey believed the best way to secure our rights was through grassroots action, coalition building and the election of LGBT people to office at all levels of government. He encouraged people to come out of the closet and be vocal about who they were and why they deserved full equality, not partial equality or crumbs. For the HRC leadership, which still advocates a piecemeal, wait-and-see approach to try and co-opt and profit from Harvey’s legacy is an outrage.”

Although not a member of Log Cabin, Dustin Lance Black teamed with the organization's Republicans Against 8 campaign in 2008 to produce an award-winning video campaign putting the face on gay and lesbian Californians.