Queer Book of the Month: Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag

Harvey Milk was an ordinary man, but he had an extraordinary dream. That dream would change history. 

Rob Sanders’ touching and emotional story Pride: The story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag is a moving, sad and inspiring non-fiction children’s book of the life of Milk, and how his loud voice to demand equality, hope, pride and love for all regardless of who they love impacted the world. Coupled with the beautiful illustrations by Steven Salerno, this book wonderfully captures what Milk had gone through in order to get his voice heard, the impact he made working with the government, and how the flag he and the artist Gilbert Baker created made their presence known and never forgotten, even after all these years. This book does not shy away from the pushback that Milk faced while demanding equality and uses strong and direct language to make it clear what his motives always were. Though geared towards kids and therefore of course takes a lighter tone, Sanders still talks about the assassination of Milk and the San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, and how their deaths could have been the end of Milk’s movement, but instead became a driving force to make it even bigger than Milk had ever dreamed.

If you are interested in reading Pride: the Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, it is available at the Stratford Public Library. You can also purchase the book at Fanfare Bookstore.