Honor local LGBTQ leaders with a nomination for the Harvey Milk Park Equality Wall

Residents can now submit a local LGBTQ leader to have their name added to the Equality Plaza Memorial Wall at Harvey Milk Promenade Park. 

Residents are encouraged to submit people who have “given their time, talents and passion” to inspire and advance the Long Beach LGBTQ+ community. 

Harvey Milk became California’s first openly gay elected official when he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977. In 1978, he gave a speech in Long Beach at the local Lambda Democratic Club encouraging residents to advocate for equal rights. 

Shortly after, Milk was assassinated by a former city employee who had resigned from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. 

Long Beach was the first city in the nation to honor Milk’s legacy by naming a park after him. It was also the first park in Long Beach to be named after an openly gay person, according to the city’s website. 

“Engagement with the local community is key to fulfilling a shared vision for optimism and hope, and in the spirit of Harvey Milk,” said John A. Newell, co-chair of The Harvey Milk Park Equality Plaza Selection Committee in a statement. 

The Equality Plaza was created in 2012 and the first nine names were added in 2013. Names on the rainbow-colored mosaic wall include local activists such as former Cal State Long Beach professor and activist Dr. Angela Bowen; local drag queen and philanthropist Jewels Long Beach; Denise Penn who organized the city’s first Dyke March in 2013; former LGBTQ Center President Ron Sylvester and more. 

Nominees may be living or deceased, but must have identified as LGBTQ and made significant contributions to the greater Long Beach area. Submissions can be made until July 31 by filling out an online nomination form. 

Nominations must include the person’s full name, an email and phone number if they’re still living, a next of kin if the nominee is deceased and a description of why they’re being nominated. 

The nominations will be reviewed and inductees will be selected by The Harvey Milk Park Equality Plaza Selection Committee. Inductees will be recognized at the annual ceremony on Oct. 21. 

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