Unexpected Love and Death in the Heart of the Castro

<p>Love and death pulse through Harvey Milk Plaza, the throbbing heart of San Francisco. The plaza, dedicated to the pioneering gay politician, celebrates his messages of self acceptance and caring for oneself and others. It also acknowledges his violent assassination. But I never expected to witness death and love firsthand at this MUNI metro station.</p> <p>For three decades I lived within a few blocks of the plaza, just down the street from Milk&rsquo;s former camera shop. Milk had launched his campaigns for city supervisor from the shop, finally succeeding on his third run in 1977. Moving to the self-proclaimed center of the gay universe helped me shed my closeted midwest identity and become comfortable as I started my career in psychiatry.</p> <p><a href="https://medium.com/fourth-wave/unexpected-love-and-death-in-the-heart-of-the-castro-5c0435fadd91"><strong>Click Here</strong></a></p>