HRC Action Center and Store Move to Historic Location of Harvey Milk’s Castro Camera

Castro street location home of Milk’s historic campaign

12/6/2010

WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, is excited to announce the movement of its San Francisco Action Center and store to the historic home of civil rights legend Harvey Milk. The new location is the former home of Milk’s Castro Camera, the location where Milk worked, lived and organized the political campaigns that eventually led him to be the first openly gay man elected into a major public office as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

“It is Harvey Milk’s vision of hope that continues to inspire the work that we do at the Human Rights Campaign,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “We are the beneficiaries of his groundbreaking activism and are honored to be a part of the future that he envisioned.”

In addition to merchandise with HRC’s signature ‘equal’ logo, the store will offer items emblazoned with the words and images of Harvey Milk. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these items will be donated to local organizations that continue to carry on the legacy of Harvey Milk, such as the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and the GLBT Historical Society.

The HRC Action Center and store will move into the new location at 575 Castro St. with a soft opening in January of next year, and hold its grand opening in May of 2011 in conjunction with Harvey Milk Day holiday activities. During the move, HRC will work to preserve a mural dedicated to Milk from the previous tenants, and work alongside the GLBT Historical Society to create a new photo mural of Milk within the store.

The San Francisco store, along with our other two locations in Washington D.C. and Provincetown, MA, offers a unique fusion of education and grassroots advocacy with HRC's signature merchandise. Each HRC Store features an in-store Action Center that is a source for information on the work of HRC and on how to get involved with the organization. In addition to keeping LGBT people and allies informed on national issues, these locations engage advocates to push leaders at all levels in support of equality. One hundred percent of every purchase from the stores goes back to the fight for LGBT equality.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.