They provided food, clothing, emotional support and a sense of family for anyone staying there or living in the area. They paid the rent for it with money they made as sex workers.
In 1972 Johnson and Rivera opened the STAR House, a shelter for gay and trans street kids. Marsha P Johnson and Sylvia Rivera co-founded the group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R). Milk became an icon and martyr in the gay community and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. His passion and drive to make change in politics earned him the support of many gay bar owners who had become frustrated by the lack of support in dealing with police harassment. He clashed with Jim Foster who had been active in gay politics for 10 years and refused to endorse Milk. When he first started being active in politics, he challenged the city’s gay leadership stating they were too conservative in attempting to gain political rights for homosexuals. During his time in office, he sponsored a bill banning discrimination in public accommodations, housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation. He served almost eleven months in office before being assassinated.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician to be elected in California.
