Called ""the most famous and most significantly open LGBT official ever elected in the United States," Harvey Milk fought against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In the 1970s when Harvey is elected into office in San Francisco, homosexual relations are still against the law in the United States, and homophobia is being stoked by outspoken conservatives and the religious right. Just ten months after being elected, Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone are assassinated by a homophobic former colleague. The killer finds sympathy from his jurors and gets a light sentence. Milk's death becomes a metaphor for the experience of gays in America and his legend as a fighter for gay rights is cemented.