"I think that ( the campaign against ) Prop 8 ignored the basics.
"They did not let the voters know who would be hurt by passage of the bill and how they would be hurt. The campaign against Prop 8 talked about human rights ( but didn't ) put a face on the campaign. ... Harvey ( Milk ) understood that you had to show who exactly would be hurt if Proposition 6 ( or in this case Prop 8 ) passed. Everybody knows somebody who is gay. It might be your neighbor, someone you work with, a relative or even a friend of a friend. These relationships make the difference. The voters can understand if you are talking about taking rights away from someone they personally know but if they can't see the impact, if it is too abstract, then it is easy to vote for or against a measure. Ultimately, I think this is why Prop 8 passed. ... The campaign was not made personal and didn't put a face on the men and women whose rights were revoked. A lot of money was raised, lots of money was spent and we lost Prop 8. I think we were missing a focus. ... Personally, I believe if Harvey had been alive we could have won." Anne Kronenberg, who was Harvey Milk's campaign manager, in an interview with GayRussia.ru, Aug. 13.
"I see a road map ( with Obama ) of six-month windows: the hate crimes bill, then the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, then Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And the administration is building a case in the military leadership and Congress and the rank-and-file members of the military. ... I don't see them dragging their feet. But where the LGBT community is feeling frustration is that the road map and timetable have not been made as clear to them." Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese to U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 7.
"His name was Harvey Milk and he was here to recruit usall of usto join a movement and change a nation. For much of his early life, he had silenced himself. In the prime of his life, he was silenced by the act of another. But in the brief time in which he spokeand ran and ledhis voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people. He would become, after several attempts, one of the first openly gay Americans elected to public office. And his message of hopehope unashamed, hope unafraidcould not ever be silenced. It was Harvey who said it best: 'You gotta give 'em hope.'" President Barack Obama awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the late gay activist Harvey Milk, Aug. 12.
"After purchasing an $8 racket with money earned from chores, 11-year-old Billie Jean declared a goal to be the No. 1 tennis player in the world. Yet, what we honor are not simply her 12 [ sic ] Grand Slam titles, 101 doubles titles and 67 singles titlespretty good, Billie Jeanwe honor what she calls 'all the off-the-court stuff'what she did to broaden the reach of the game, to change how women athletes and women everywhere view themselves, and to give everyoneregardless of gender or sexual orientationincluding my two daughtersa chance to compete both on the court and in life. As Billie Jean once said, we should 'never, ever underestimate the human spirit.' Nor should we underestimate Billie Jean King's spirit." President Barack Obama awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Billie Jean King, Aug. 12.
"They ( the White House ) didn't get any of my facts right. Did you see all thehow many titles I won? I was cracking up. Not even in the ballpark. I thought it was adorable. ... The Grand Slam's at 39 not at 12." Billie Jean King to Politico.com, Aug. 13.
Assistance: Bill Kelley