Taking a cue from Hollywood, San Francisco's predominantly gay Castro District is preparing to install a Rainbow Honor Walk that recognizes LGBT notables like Oscar Wilde and Frida Kahlo.
Work is expected to start this year on the sidewalk plaques, which will be installed on Market and Castro streets. The first 20 people to be honored have been chosen by local residents and merchants, and while they include people like Sylvester James and Allen Ginsberg, Harvey Milk's name is not on that list. Bevan Dufty, the gay city supervisor who represents the Castro, says Milk is already honored throughout the Castro — including having a public plaza named for him — and there's no reason he can't be added in the future.
"I can’t imagine that he wouldn’t be included in the next 20 individuals," Dufty tells The Advocate. "Harvey is our legacy in the Castro." Dufty says Milk would be proud of the diverse group of people, such as Kahlo and James, being honored by the people of the Castro.
Dufty is running for mayor of San Francisco this year — he says he's raised $125,000 already and is preparing for a Victory Fund campaign training event in Las Vegas later this month.
"I got the biggest present when [state senator] Mark Leno decided not to run for mayor," Dufty says with a laugh. Aside from his LGBT voter base, Dufty is "working on building a base that includes the Westside, Republican voters, and the Chinese and Latino communities, and demonstrating my proven ability to build city services when our budget is challenging."
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