Kari Krakow, author of a biography of the charismatic gay rights leader Harvey Milk, will visit Ithaca College on Monday, October 11, to discuss the experiences she had writing The Harvey Milk Story. Held in conjunction with National Coming Out Day, Krakow's talk will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Clark Lounge.
An elementary school teacher for 20 years, Krakow wrote her biography of Milk as a children's book to show young readers that individuality can be a source of strength.
Krakow's book tells the story of a popular student who played high school sports, served in the Navy, and for many years hid the fact that he was gay. Born on Long Island, Milk was eventually drawn to San Francisco, where he openly declared his sexual orientation and became an active member of the gay community in the city's Castro district. When Milk was elected to San Francisco's board of supervisors in 1977, he was one of the country's first openly gay men to assume public office.
National Coming Out Day is held annually to commemorate the October 11, 1987, march on Washington by LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) people.
For more information on Krakow's talk and on National Coming Out Day, call Lisa Maurer, coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Affairs Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services at 274-7394.
Contributed by Lisa Maurer
