The morning began with cloudy skies on this August day in The Castro District. We met Kathy at the spot where she said she would be, under the Rainbow Flag. She greeted me and my family warmly, as we waited for others on our tour. After everyone arrived, she asked all of us to introduce ourselves, so right away we felt like friends, instead of a group of strangers. Our first stop was at Harvey Milk Plaza where Kathy provided an overview of the gay civil rights struggle and Harvey Milk's contribution, in particular. Throughout the walking tour, you will experience the the heart of the area, which is GLBTQ community. Kathy was very informative, as she spoke about personal experiences, as well as historical facts of the area and its community. The Pink Triangle Park was especially meaningful to me. There are rose quartz rocks scattered in a triangular shape, which visitors are encouraged to take. I believe it's meant to symbolize positive energy, the desire to make a difference in the world, and the hope that equal rights be given to ALL people.
My family and I also enjoyed the gorgeous mosaic on the walls, made by the children who attended The Harvey Milk Civil Roghts Academy. We passed by shops (some eccentric!!), restaurants, bars, and Victorian homes. Our final stop was The Human Rights Campaign Store, located in the heart of the Castro District, in the historic home of civil rights legend, Harvey Milk. Its location is the former home of Milk’s “Castro Camera”, where Milk worked, lived and organized the political campaigns that eventually led him to be the first openly gay man elected into a major public office as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It was there that I met two lovely people, Colton and Michael, who work at the store. Both were incredibly kind, genuine and courteous 😊😊. The tour, which began with cloudy skies, ended with the sun shining warmly down on us.