Harvey Milk is a prominent social figure recognized for his activist role in gay rights. As one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States, he served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk championed issues of equality and discrimination, advocating for the LGBTQ+ community during a time of significant oppression. His activism and tragic assassination in 1978 galvanized the gay rights movement, making him an enduring symbol of the struggle for civil rights.