The two-block roadway in Hillcrest formerly known as Blaine Avenue became Harvey Milk Street today upon completion of a nearly one-year transition period, according to City Council President Todd Gloria.
The city renamed the street, which is close to the Gay and Lesbian Community Center, last May in honor of the slain gay rights leader. However, the sign for Blaine Avenue had remained posted until now, below one for Harvey Milk Street.
City officials believe the road, which contains a handful of houses and apartment complexes in the middle of San Diego's LGBT community, was the first in the country to honor the slain gay rights leader. While Milk mainly is associated with San Francisco, where he was a supervisor, he was stationed in San Diego when he was in the Navy.
Milk was one of the first openly gay politicians to hold public office when elected to the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco in 1977. He pushed through a gay rights law before he and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were shot to death in late November 1978 by former Supervisor Dan White.
The city's costs for the renaming were covered by donations, according to Gloria, who represents the neighborhood and is gay.
