City Hosts Pride in Irvine Event This Friday Evening
On Friday, May 22, the City will host the fifth annual Pride in Irvine event, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Civic Center Plaza. The event will include the raising of the Progress Flag in front of City Hall, in recognition and support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Pride in Irvine will also feature local organizations representing the LGBTQIA+ community, with educational activities and information. The City promises “refreshments and activities for all ages.”
The event honors Harvey Milk Day and June Pride Month. Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official in San Francisco, serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1977 to 1978. Before and after his election, Milk was a champion of human rights. On November 27, 1978, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in their City Hall offices by Supervisor Dan White.
Milk’s birthday, May 22, is recognized in California as a day of special significance in schools, pursuant to SB 572, signed into law by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 11, 2009. The story of Milk’s life is told in The Mayor of Castro Street, a 1982 biography by Randy Shiltz. Milk’s life and political career were also portrayed in two highly regarded films, the Academy Award winning 1984 documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, which may be viewed free of charge here, and the critically acclaimed 2008 drama Milk, starring Sean Penn in an Oscar-winning performance.
