US TO RELEASE HARVEY MILK STAMP

Following a letter writing campaign launched in 2009, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is set to issue what is believed to be the first stamp of an openly gay politician, the iconic Harvey Milk.

On Thursday, the Harvey Milk Foundation announced the news on its Facebook page via a message from Milk’s nephew.

“Breaking! It is official! The USPS will confirm this week that my uncle, Harvey Milk will be commemorated on a 2014 US postage stamp. Another first!” said Stuart Milk.

“My deep gratitude to everyone that supported this effort! More details including the image to come via USPS soon! ‘Hope Will Never Be Silent’; and that enduring message of hope will be on millions of letters represented by Harvey’s image!”

Milk has been described as the first openly gay man to hold public office in America, after he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

He was assassinated in 1978 at the age of 48 by a disgruntled city official. His birthday is celebrated on 22 May, which is marked annually in California as Harvey Milk Day.

In 2009 he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US.

An Oscar winning film about Milk’s life, starring Sean Penn, was released in 2008.