Hope in Action: Honoring Harvey Milk’s Legacy

by kthigpen | May 22, 2025

Every May 22nd, the nation comes together to remember Harvey Milk—an activist who showed us that hope isn’t meant to be whispered behind closed doors but proclaimed down every city street. I’m Kurt Thigpen, Vice Chair of the State Public Charter School Authority and CEO of Ace Studios. In both my public service and business work, I’ve seen how Harvey’s courage continues to shape our fight for equality.

This year, I’ve been reflecting on four gifts Harvey left us—and how each of us can carry them forward.

Grit to Rise After We Fall

In today’s climate, it can feel like we’re in a boxing ring we never signed up for—laws targeting LGBTQ+ youth, threats to our healthcare, challenges to our basic humanity. I’ve had moments when life knocked me off balance, and I wondered if pushing on was worth the pain. Harvey’s lesson? Bruises aren’t the final word; they’re the introduction to a comeback. Every time we stand back up—maybe unsteady, perhaps with a metaphorical black eye—we prove our community’s resilience and carry everyone else forward.

Education as Our Shield

Ignorance breeds fear, and fear fuels hate. Harvey understood that better than anyone, which is why he fought for open conversations about queer lives—in newspapers, classrooms, and living rooms. As books are banned and curricula are sanitized, it’s up to us to fill the gap. At Ace Studios, I’ve seen how storytelling can break down barriers faster than any policy paper. Share accounts of Stonewall, AIDS activism, or personal coming-out stories—each one reminds people that LGBTQ+ history is central, not peripheral.

Representation That Resonates

Seeing someone who looks like you in a leadership role transforms hope from a slogan into a real possibility. In my roles across public service, I strive to be that example for young people who dream of making a difference. When LGBTQ+ candidates run for school boards, city councils, or Congress, they force our neighbors to recognize us as leaders, advocates, and stakeholders in our shared future.

Solidarity in Action

No movement is built alone. Harvey never marched by himself—and neither should we. Solidarity means more than retweets and signed petitions; it means volunteering at youth shelters, writing to your representatives, and showing up at rallies. Every threatening bill has a coalition ready to respond and a community center ready to welcome those in need. And when election day arrives, our votes defend the very freedoms under attack.

A Call to Courage

Harvey closed his speeches with a simple plea: “You have to give them hope.” Here’s how you can answer that call today:

• Mentor a Young Leader. Guide a queer teen through civic engagement—from attending a school board meeting to helping craft an email to a state senator.
• Share Your Story. Write an op-ed, post on social media, or simply have a conversation over coffee—every personal account chips away at misconceptions.
• Run for Office. Your lived experience brings invaluable insight. Whether it’s a local board or a statewide seat, your voice matters.

Each action—big or small—chips away at bigotry’s walls.

Harvey Milk taught us that hope is active. It’s heard in marching band drums, seen in rainbow flags, and lived out in everyday acts of courage. Let’s honor his legacy by rising when we fall, educating the uninformed, representing our community boldly, and standing united.

Our best days are still ahead—let’s keep hope loud.

The Cost of Silence: How Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Create a Climate of Fear and Shame

by kthigpen | Mar 6, 2023

As an openly gay person in today’s world, I’ve seen firsthand the impact of the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ laws being proposed and enacted across the United States. It’s distressing to see that in 2023, there are still those who seek to erase the very existence of LGBTQ+ people and deny us the basic human right to love who we choose and live our lives authentically and in the open.

The recent national surge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is not only discriminatory, but it is also incredibly dangerous. It fuels a climate of fear and hatred that can (and has) led to violence and even hate crimes against our community. Everyone, no matter their religion, background, identity, or beliefs, has a fundamental and legal right to safety and security in this country.

Take, for example, the “Don’t Say Gay” laws that prohibit the mention of LGBTQ+ relationships or identities in schools. These laws not only erase our experiences, but they also create an environment of shame and silence around LGBTQ+ issues, making it even harder for young people to come to terms with their own identities and find support from their peers and educators.

Similarly, the banning of books that feature LGBTQ+ characters or themes is a blatant attempt to erase our experiences and prevent young people from seeing themselves represented in literature. This not only deprives LGBTQ+ students of the chance to see themselves reflected in the world around them but also sends a message that our stories are not valid or worthy of being told.

And then there are the recent efforts to criminalize drag shows and other forms of LGBTQ+ expression in places like Tennessee. This is a clear attempt to police gender expression and to deny American citizens the right to express themselves in ways that feel authentic and true to their identities.

It doesn’t help that public figures like J.K. Rowling continue to make hateful comments about transgender people’s existence, fueling hate in young people’s minds. A children’s book author that I used to look up to as the Harry Potter series was a cherished part of my childhood.

All of these anti-LGBTQ+ laws, actions, and policies are rooted in a deep-seated fear and hatred of those who are different, of those who do not fit neatly into society’s narrow definition of what is “normal” or “acceptable”. And they are all part of a larger effort to roll back the gains that we have made over the past few decades, to push us back into the shadows and deny us the rights and freedoms that we have fought so hard to achieve.

But we cannot let this happen. We must speak out against these laws and policies, we must stand up for the rights of LGBTQ+ people everywhere, and we must fight for a world where everyone is free to love who they choose, express themselves in the ways that feel most authentic to them, and be proud of who they are.

We cannot let fear and ignorance win. We must show the world that drag queens and LGBTQ+ people are not the enemy – hate, and ignorance are.

Together, we can create a world where love, acceptance, and inclusion are the norm, not the exception.

Kurt Thigpen is a former school board member in Washoe County, and his journey has been covered on outlets such as ProPublica, CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell, and Meet the Press Reports with Chuck Todd. He is also the CEO of Ace Studios, a creative marketing company with a focus on creating social impacts in the world.