SAN FRANCISCO—On Thursday, March 22, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee recommended the approval of new legislation that would rename Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport to honor advocate Harvey Milk. The legislation was introduced by Hillary Ronen with the co-sponsorship of Jeff Sheehy.
Milk served as San Francisco’s first openly gay politician to be elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was gunned down by his colleague Dan White at San Francisco City Hall, who also murdered SF Mayor George Moscone in 1978.
This is not the first time that the Board of Supervisors attempted to honor Harvey Milk at SFO. The first attempt was made back in 2013 by former Supervisor David Campos. Supervisor Ronen introduced the new legislation to the Board of Supervisors after a vote by the Airport Facilities Naming Advisory Committee in 2017, which resulted in support for the renaming on both counts. Ronen indicated that she plans to augment legislation to include artwork of Milk. For the amendment to transpire for such an amendment to occur, the director of the airport must submit the legislation to the Arts Commission for approval.
In order for the terminal to be renamed after Milk, a final vote will have to transpire by the Board of Supervisors.
“Thank you for daring to declare SF a city of acceptance, of celebrated diversity, and of hope no matter one’s background. I’m so proud to be able to commemorate the naming of Terminal 1 at @flySFO after Harvey Milk,” tweeted Mark Leno who is running for Mayor of San Francisco.
