Activists say there are lessons to be learned from 'Milk'
By ROBERT W. BUTLER
The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/movies/story/960067.html (http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/movies/story/960067.html)
Movies may be just entertainment. But the film "Milk" has taken on another role — that of a rallying point for gays and lesbians dismayed by California voters' rejection in November of gay marriage.
The Focus Features release starring Sean Penn as groundbreaking homosexual politician Harvey Milk is viewed by some in the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender community as a textbook on gay activism, one that should be studied and emulated to prevent further setbacks.
In many locations, activists have used the opening of "Milk" as an occasion to pass out literature on upcoming city, state and national legislation.
In Rhode Island, Susan MacNeil saw "Milk" as an opportunity to demonstrate for gay rights. The executive director of the state's marriage equality effort, MacNeil expected 20 people to show up for a rally on a recent rainy night in Providence.