SFO to be renamed after Harvey Milk?

Today San Francisco Supervisor David Campos is proposing legislature that if passed, would put renaming the San Francisco International Airport after Harvey Milk to a vote in November. It looks like it will pass, Campos needs the support of five more supervisors, and already had four as of Monday.

“There are already a number of things honoring Harvey Milk, including schools, but nothing of this national and international scale,” said Campos. “It’s time to send a message that members of the LGBT community are treated with dignity and respect. … In places all over the world, including Europe and Asia, people of all walks of life look up to Harvey Milk.”

Campos also pointed out of the other 80 U.S. airports named after individuals, none are named after someone who is gay. About 40 million people movie through SFO every year, “and the idea that millions of people can learn about Harvey Milk and what he represented is very moving,” Said Campos. He also estimates the cost of renaming SFO after Harvey Milk will cost between $50,000 and $250,000, and hopes to help fund the change though private donations.

The change of course, has the blessing of Stuart Milk, nephew and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation.

“When you think of the 9 million international visitors, coming from many of the 77 countries where it’s still illegal to be LGBT – people forget that there are still 77 countries where it’s criminal to be who you are,” said Milk. “To be in Dubai, and see on the board a flight that ends at Harvey Milk San Francisco International Airport, or to be a young Pakistani, in a country where it is illegal to be gay, look up and see the name of a gay icon and feel, ‘I am not alone’ – it resonates back to my uncle and the calls he got from places like Altoona, Pa., when he was elected.”

This would be a beautiful thing in deed. I can almost see the inspiration it would spread!

You can read more at SFGate.com.