--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first gay people we elect must be…" description: "\"The first gay people we elect must be strong. They must not be content to sit in the back of the bus. They must not be content to accept pablum. They m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/harvey-milk-9963_accept_the-first-gay-people-we-elect-must-be-st_152608.jpg" --- # The first gay people we elect must be strong. They must… ![“The first gay people we elect must be strong. They must not be content to sit in the back of the bus. They must not be content to accept pablum. They must be above wheeling and dealing.” quote by Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/harvey-milk-9963_accept_the-first-gay-people-we-elect-must-be-st_152608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/harvey-milk-9963_accept_the-first-gay-people-we-elect-must-be-st_152608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb6/harvey-milk-9963_accept_the-first-gay-people-we-elect-must-be-st_152608.jpg) > “The first gay people we elect must be strong. They must not be content to sit in the back of the bus. They must not be content to accept pablum. They must be above wheeling and dealing.” [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elected gay leaders must be proactive, refusing complacency and superficial politics. **In simple terms:** Leaders should be bold, not passive. Key Takeaway Stand up, demand substantive change. Themes leadership activism LGBTQ Mood determined urgent Type political motivational When to use this quote - elections - policy advocacy - community organizing Key Concepts political courage social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can boldness be balanced with inclusivity? - What strategies avoid tokenism? A Different Perspective Risk of alienating moderate voters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) [Accept Pablum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept-pablum-1692752/) [Bus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bus/) [Elect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elect/) [Elect Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elect-strong-1692751/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-people/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Elect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-elect-304082/) [Sit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sit/) ## Related quotes > [We are being held hostage by the people we elect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dede-gardner/we-are-being-held-hostage-by-the-people-we-elect/) [Dede Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dede-gardner/) > [I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders - leaders not compromised by terror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/i-call-on-the-palestinian-people-to-elect-new-leaders-leaders-not/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [We are used to being sold out by people we elect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-are-used-to-being-sold-out-by-people-we-elect/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-the-people-elect-leaders-not-to-rule-but-to-serve/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Look, the people will elect the government they think best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawaz-sharif/look-the-people-will-elect-the-government-they-think-best/) [Nawaz Sharif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawaz-sharif/) > [We should let people elect judges based on their experience and ability to do the job, not which party they pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/we-should-let-people-elect-judges-based-on-their-experience-and/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [I want to make sure the people we elect to office believe in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-want-to-make-sure-the-people-we-elect-to-office-believe-in-america/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) > [I go back to the parallels with 1963, 1964 when white America really became aware of the brutality of segregation, the cruelty of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleve-jones/i-go-back-to-the-parallels-with-1963-1964-when-white-america-really/) [Cleve Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleve-jones/) > [People should elect those leaders who have their ears to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijayashanti/people-should-elect-those-leaders-who-have-their-ears-to-the-ground/) [Vijayashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijayashanti/) > [If the people should elect, they will never fail to prefer some man of distinguished character, or services; some man, if he might so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gouverneur-morris/if-the-people-should-elect-they-will-never-fail-to-prefer-some-man-of/) [Gouverneur Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gouverneur-morris/) > [Well... I still can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. These politicians are such sleazebags that you just don't know. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/well-i-still-can-t-see-the-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-these/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [The best thing going for us is Al Gore. I cannot conceive how the American people could elect him. On the other hand, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/the-best-thing-going-for-us-is-al-gore-i-cannot-conceive-how-the/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) > [We still go out and elect people who we think are going to govern and better our interests. So we may not have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-still-go-out-and-elect-people-who-we-think-are-going-to-govern-and/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [My feeling is that whatever people elect to do, insofar as they don't deny the rights of others, every effort should be made to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/my-feeling-is-that-whatever-people-elect-to-do-insofar-as-they-don-t/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Harvey Milk > [Some people call me the unofficial mayor of Castro Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/some-people-call-me-the-unofficial-mayor-of-castro-street/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [“Let's make no mistake about this: The American Dream starts with the neighborhoods. If we wish to rebuild our cities, we must first rebuild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/let-s-make-no-mistake-about-this-the-american-dream-starts-with-the/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [We will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/we-will-not-win-our-rights-by-staying-quietly-in-our-closets/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [If it were true that children mimicked their teachers, you'd sure have a helluva lot more nuns running around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/if-it-were-true-that-children-mimicked-their-teachers-you-d-sure-have/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Never take an elevator in city hall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/never-take-an-elevator-in-city-hall/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Out of the bars and into the streets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/out-of-the-bars-and-into-the-streets/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/rights-are-won-only-by-those-who-make-their-voices-heard/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [We are coming out to tell the truths about gays, for I am tired of the conspiracy of silence, so I'm going to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/we-are-coming-out-to-tell-the-truths-about-gays-for-i-am-tired-of-the/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Let me have my tax money go for my protection and not for my prosecution. Let my tax money go for the protection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/let-me-have-my-tax-money-go-for-my-protection-and-not-for-my/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [I wish I had time to explain everything I did. Almost everything was done with an eye on the GLBT movement...last week I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/i-wish-i-had-time-to-explain-everything-i-did-almost-everything-was/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [Freedom is too enormous to be slipped under a closet door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/freedom-is-too-enormous-to-be-slipped-under-a-closet-door/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [It takes no compromising to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no survey to remove repressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/it-takes-no-compromising-to-give-people-their-rights-it-takes-no/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [If I turned around every time somebody called me a faggot, I'd be walking backward - and I don't want to walk backward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/if-i-turned-around-every-time-somebody-called-me-a-faggot-i-d-be/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [“You’ve gotta give them hope. If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/you-ve-gotta-give-them-hope-if-a-bullet-should-enter-my-brain-let/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) > [I'm a small businessman and I'm well aware of the uncertainties of the economy, exactly what the 'inflationary spiral' means when I'm forced to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-milk/i-m-a-small-businessman-and-i-m-well-aware-of-the-uncertainties-of/) [Harvey Milk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) [Explore all 69 Harvey Milk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-milk/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) [Chan Heng Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chan-heng-chee/) > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) [Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accept/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first gay people we elect must be strong. They must not be content to sit in the back of the bus. 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