Harvey Milk was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, but he had not served a full year in office when he was shot by a homophobic fellow supervisor; his assassination made him the most famous gay man in modern history. Before finding his calling as a politician Milk fumbled to find the niche from which he could fulfill his aspirations. He rejected Judaism as a religion, but he was deeply influenced by the cultural values of his Jewish upbringing and his understanding of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. Faderman provides context to Milk's life as a gay icon, a Jew, and a complex, if contradictory, man. -- adapted from front jacket and back cover.

Introduction -- Part 1. A nice Jewish boy. The Milchs ; Deep, dark secrets ; Drifting ; Will-o'-the-wisps -- Part 2. "They call me the mayor of Castro street". "Who is this Mr. Yoyo?" ; Learning to put up the chairs ; Strike two ; Milk vs. the machine -- Part 3. A serious political animal. Victory! ; Supervisor Milk ; Leading ; Dark clouds gathering -- Part 4. Martyr. "If a bullet should enter my brain ..." ; Aftermath -- Epilogue : Harvey Milk's legacy.