Anti-Gay Christian Group's Advice: Don't Accept Mail With New Harvey Milk Stamp
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — The first U.S. stamp to feature an openly gay elected official is prompting outcry from the Christian fundamentalist group American Family Association.
The group released a statement Wednesday urging members not to accept any mail postmarked with the U.S. Postal Service's commemorative Harvey Milk stamp.
"Honoring predator Harvey Milk on a U.S. postage stamp is disturbing to say the least," the press release said. "Harvey Milk was a very disreputable man and used his charm and power to prey on young boys with emotional problems and drug addiction. He is the last person we should be featuring on a stamp."
The stamp with Milk's laughing face, name and a small strip of the rainbow flag, first became available May 22 at post offices throughout San Francisco and nationwide.
Long lines formed in front of a U.S. Post Office in San Francisco's Castro District last Thursday as supporters of the assassinated city supervisor rushed to get a stamp.
Gay civil rights activist Cleve Jones was at the Castro District post office, along with filmmaker Dustin Lance Black, who wrote the 2008 movie about Milk's life and political career, "Milk."
An official White House stamp dedication ceremony was also held last Thursday to honor the first openly gay San Francisco supervisor.
The AFA called the stamp a way of pushing "the radical homosexual lobby," meanwhile, "the United States Postal Service honored a child predator at the whim of a drag queen," referencing the seven years of lobbying for the stamp by San Diego LGBT activist Nicole Murray-Ramirez.
The group, which has been listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center since 2009, issued this call to action for its members:
1. Refuse to accept the Harvey Milk stamp if offered by your local post office. Instead, ask for a stamp of the United States flag.
2. Refuse to accept mail at your home or business if it is postmarked with the Harvey Milk stamp. Simply write 'Return to Sender" on the envelope and tell your postman you won't accept it.
