The Mayor of Castro Street

by Randy Shilts

Paperback

Published October 14, 2008

About the author

Randy Shilts was a highly acclaimed, pioneering gay American journalist and author. He worked as a reporter for both The Advocate and the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as for San Francisco Bay Area television stations.

Reviews

[David Vink · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mayor of Castro Street by Randy Shilts

🌈 Gay Rights, Zoning Fights, and One Hell of a Tom of Finland Stach

Before Harvey Milk was assassinated, he was a man pushing paper at city hall—and pushing boundaries across the country. This book tells the story of how a camera shop owner became a civil rights icon… through the glamorous power of municipal politics.

Randy Shilts brings heart, history, and a whole lot of policy to Milk’s story. It’s inspiring, maddening, and at times, a little dry—the book sometimes gets bogged down in the sausage-making of local politics.

This isn’t a Pride parade of a read—it’s the backroom deal that made the parade possible. Less glitter, more governance.

Still, it’s a must for anyone wanting to understand how gay rights got political, and how one man made it personal - costing him his life. Just don’t expect it to be sexy—it’s history, not Hollywood.

Verdict: Not great, but a good read.

Check out Milk with Sean Penn if you get a chance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

#bookreview #bookrecommendation #harveymilk #gayrights

[Jeff Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several books and seen several movies/documentaries about Harvey Milk over the years. I consider myself very familiar with Milk and his life. This one is, to me, the best. Well written and the audiobook is well narrated. Incredibly informative and I would recommend everyone read this fascinating story of an inspirational man.