In a sweeping speech about the state of affairs in today’s politically-charged world, Palm Springs Pride CEO Ron deHarte addressed a sold out gathering of business leaders, educators and most importantly students attending the 13th annual Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast.
DeHarte, who also serves as mayor Palm Springs, leads a group of voluteers each May to honor the memory of Milk, who was assassinated November 27, 1978 and was the first openly gay elected official in California.
Ron deHarte, Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast speech May 8, 2025
Today, many administration policies undermine fundamental rights and protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. Harvey Milk’s rallying cry, “When even one of us is under attack, we are all under attack,” hits home as hard today as it did 50 years ago. The core values of our nation, the sacred bedrock upon which we stand, are under relentless, vicious assault! They seek to dismantle the breathtaking beauty of our diversity! They aim to tear apart the fundamental right to equity! They strive to crush the very promise of inclusion! — and why? Because they fear the power of our unity! They tremble before the unyielding strength of our collective voice! Whether they target the hard-won rights of our LGBTQIA+ siblings or seek to dismantle vital health and social service initiatives, their sinister aim is crystal clear: to divide and conquer! They are coming for all of us!
Let’s be real! Let us open our eyes and see the truth that burns bright within this very room, our communities, and the nation! There are more of us than there are of them!
Our voices, united and amplified, are a force they cannot withstand! We will not be silenced! We will not be divided! We will rise together as a roaring tide of justice. And we will reclaim the promise of a nation where liberty and equality are not just hollow words on paper but the living, breathing reality for every single soul! Let the fire in our hearts ignite a movement that cannot be extinguished!
In this critical moment, I want to share three powerful responsibilities, lessons I learned from the determined Stacey Abrams, that can guide us through these turbulent times.
First, we must speak up.
They want our silence. They believe their vitriol and aggression will force us into submission. They expect us to remain silent while our community is under attack. They expect you to turn a blind eye to the injustices others face, whispering, “Not my problem.” They expect immigrants to say nothing because poverty is not their problem. They seek to isolate and divide us into smaller, weaker targets! But we will not be silenced.
We must be relentless. We must take action! We must speak up! We will tell our stories, exposing the darkness of injustice with the light of truth. We will use our voices, our wallets, and our very actions to challenge the status quo. We are empowered. We will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who share our values. We will refuse to tolerate bigotry and hate! In the mid-70s, Harvey Milk understood that our struggles are intertwined – workers’ rights, the rights of our elders, the fight against anti-gay discrimination in housing and employment, and the rights of all marginalized communities – they are one and the same.
Second, we must Stand Firm.
We will face those who seek to undermine our very existence! We have elected officials who betray their oaths and prioritize political expediency over the well-being of their constituents. We have a president of the United States who believes that national security is enhanced by eliminating those willing to sacrifice their lives for this country! If you are a member of our military, transgender or not, if you are willing to fight for me, then I must fight for you. We must stand firm together.
We will stand firm against those who tell us that we have achieved enough, that we should be content with the crumbs they offer and be quiet, and that we should be silent. We will stand firm against the demonization of entire communities. We will not be intimidated by their pathetic attempts to silence our parades, our protests, our voices. We will amplify our voices. We will march with greater fervor. We will do more than ever before. Harvey understood that progress is not simply handed down; it is fought for. He taught us that even the smallest actions can ignite a revolution! We will stand firm, unwavering in our commitment to justice. That is our responsibility at this moment. Everyone has a voice! Everyone has the right to live openly and authentically.
In moments of despair, when those we have entrusted with power turn their backs on us, we must have hope. We must have optimism! We must stay strong! When we are subjected to hateful slurs, when we are told that our dead names are the only names that can be used, when our very humanity is questioned, we will not yield. We will not capitulate. We will stay strong!
When global crises threaten to overwhelm us, and when U.S. humanitarian aid is withdrawn from those in desperate need, we will speak up, we will stand firm, and we will stay strong. We will demand accountability from our elected officials. We’re going to call them every single day. When we wake up and before we go to bed. We are going to flood their zones. We’re going to flood their narratives! We’re going to flood their offices with our voices and our concerns. We will stay strong because America needs us.
They seek to exploit moments of crisis, sow division and fear, and hope you will retreat into the shadows and keep quiet. They hope we will succumb to their intimidation tactics and shut up. They underestimate our resilience and unwavering commitment to justice.
It takes no compromise to give people their rights…it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. No survey or national polling is needed to remove repression.
They will be proven wrong.
We will be there for each other because they cannot defeat us all. United, we are an unstoppable force. Together, we will prevail. Together, we will build a nation where justice and equality will win.
Harvey Milk’s voice may have been silenced in 1978, but his words echo in this ballroom. His unwavering belief in the power of hope, visibility, and relentless activism remains a guiding light.
Thank you for being here this morning and honoring Harvey Milk’s legacy. Thank you for believing in and supporting our future—the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders.
As I wrap up, I ask you to consider your role in this critical moment. Be guided by Harvey Milk’s timeless lesson: rights are won only by those who make their voices heard. — Ron deHarte.
Singer/Songwriter Holly Near received the Lifetime Achievement Award as an artist who has been singing for a more equitable world for well over 40 creative years.
On the night of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk’s assassination, Near was called on to perform to mourners. The news profoundly affected her, inspiring her to write the song “Singing for Our Lives” that very day. The song quickly became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ movement, blazing unity and resilience in the face of adversity.
