President Obama Honors Harvey Milk & Billie Jean King with Medal of Freedom
August 13, 2009
As GLAAD previously reported, The White House announced late last month that 16 “agents of change” would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Among the recipients were two openly gay and lesbian people, slain San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk, and tennis legend Billie Jean King. President Obama held the official ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, August 12.
The New York Times, USA Today, and other national news media outlined the prodigious accomplishments of the recipients and highlighted the significance of Milk’s legacy.
The President used Milk’s own words in his remarks about the LGBT leader:
“His name was Harvey Milk, and he was here to recruit us – all of us – to join a movement and change a nation,” the president said, evoking a call that Milk would use at political rallies, “In the brief time in which he spoke – and ran and led – his voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people.”
When speaking of King’s accomplishments, the president highlighted her tennis titles, but said that she was really there because of her activism “off-the-court.” President Obama went on to say that “what [King] did to broaden the reach of the game, to change how women athletes and women everywhere view themselves, and to give everyone — regardless of gender or sexual orientation — including my two daughters — a chance to compete both on the court and in life.”
CNN had live coverage of King receiving her medal as well as Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk, receiving his uncle’s medal:
In an article titled “President Obama Grants Medals to Milk, King,” the Politico.com delved deeper into the event’s significance to the LGBT community.
Writers Alexander Burns and Carol E. Lee acknowledged frustration from some about the Obama Administration’s progress on LGBT issues, such as the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the President’s stance on marriage protections for same-sex couples. The article includes a quote from King, who says she is willing to give the President some more time, however. King notes, “Civil unions, I think we have to get there first. I agree with him…I want to get that done, and then I want to the next step.”
King was also interviewed for a piece by CBS News titled “Billie Jean King More Than Great Tennis.” The article celebrates King’s historical weight as an icon for women’s rights. King addressed her famed “Battle of the Sexes” match against Bobby Riggs, saying, “It’s about history. It’s about changing the way the world thinks.”
On Fox News, The O’Reilly Factor featured a segment in which host Bill O’Reilly, Monica Crowley, and Alan Colmes opined whether or not the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients were ‘worthy’ of receiving the esteemed honor — Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King were both put up to judgment.
Crowley expressed her approval of the choice of Harvey Milk because of his promotion of equal rights. She did say, however, that she believes that the Milk choice “has a political tinge to it.” Crowley also nodded her approval to the choice of Billie Jean King, though she only highlighted the tennis player’s athletic prowess and disregarded King’s sexual orientation when O’Reilly brought it up.
Cindi Creager, GLAAD’s Director of National News, applauded the media’s coverage of this event. She said:
Related Posts:“Its encouraging to see this much national news coverage devoted to the LGBT angle of the Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony. It highlights the growing interest in stories that affect LGBT lives. Media reports about this honor bestowed on Harvey Milk and Billie Jean King spotlight their immense historical contributions to bringing our community closer to full equality and allow viewers to see a full range of presidential award worthy heroes.”
President Obama to Honor Harvey Milk, Billie Jean King With Presidential Medal of Freedom
July 30, 2009
President Obama today announced the 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among those honored will be LGBT rights pioneer, Harvey Milk, as well as openly lesbian tennis champion and gender equality activist, Billie Jean King.
Milk and King are the first openly LGBT people to be honored by the distinguished prize.
The Medal of Freedom is awarded to individuals who make an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural, or other significant public or private endeavors.
In a statement released Thursday, President Obama expounded on the prodigious accomplishments achieved by the honorees:
Each [of the recipients] has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way. Their relentless devotion to breaking down barriers and lifting up their fellow citizens sets a standard to which we all should strive. It is my great honor to award them the Medal of Freedom.
Others presidential honorees include Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA), South African activist and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Reverend Joseph Lowery, all of whom have championed LGBT equality across the globe. Tutu was honored by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) in April 2008 for his remarkable strides to end homophobia.
Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, an organization devoted to “identifying, training and electing LGBT leaders to all levels of office in every corner of America,” noted the significance of the president’s selection of Harvey Milk:
We are thrilled President Obama is honoring Harvey Milk with the Medal of Freedom. He’s an American hero and trailblazer whose election more than 30 years ago triggered a political awakening that inspires us still today. This recognition sends an important message about how critical political leadership will be in making all Americans equal in the eyes of the law.
The eleven other laureates are Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro José Greer, Jr., Stephen Hawking, Jack Kemp, Joe Medicine Crow, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Mary Robinson, Janet Davison Rowley, and Muhammad Yunus.
GLAAD will continue to watch for more coverage on the Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees. Updates can be found on GLAADblog.org
Related Posts:What to Watch: Thursday
October 16, 2008
Check local listings Oprah, syndicated (1 hr) NEW – Billie Jean King is one of Oprah’s guests today. The show will focus on female pioneers.
8:00 pm Survivor: Gabon, CBS (1 hr) NEW - Competitor Charlie Herschel is a gay attorney from New York.
Phillip Bloch
8:00 pm Ugly Betty, ABC (1 hr) NEW – Last week, Alexis (Daniel’s transgender sister) admitted to a crime and was carted away, but not before revealing that she — not Daniel — fathered Daniel Jr. Oh, the drama!
8:00 pm My Name is Earl, NBC (30 min) NEW - Kenny is a recurring gay character.
9:00 pm The Office, NBC (30 min) NEW - Out accountant Oscar is one of the employees at paper goods company Dunder Mifflin.
9:00 pm Grey’s Anatomy, ABC (1 hr) NEW - Callie prepares for her first date with Erica!
10:00 pm Glam God, VH1 (1 hr) SEASON FINALE - Vivica A. Fox hosts this reality competition searching for the next hot Hollywood stylist. Openly gay stylist Phillip Bloch is one of the judges.
10:00 pm Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, Bravo (1 hr) NEW - Project Runway’s Tim Gunn is back with a second season of his own show. Gretta Monahan joins as his new fashion accomplice. This week the program moves an hour earlier, to its regular timeslot.
10:30 pm The Sarah Silverman Program, Comedy Central (30 min) NEW - Stoner gay couple Brian and Steve are part of the program.
