“The Times of Harvey Milk” among 25 films chosen by US Library Of Congress for National Film Registry

The Times of Harvey Milk is among the 25 films chosen by the US Library Of Congress for preservation in its National Film Registry.

There had previously been a conspicuous absence of LGBT-themed films from the registry and Dennis Doros, whose company Milestone Film & Video distributes the Milk documentary, had for years advocated for the film’s inclusion.

‘I suspect that the tide of the country has changed, and that the acceptance by the vice president and the president of gay rights might have sent a message to the entire government, not just the Library of Congress,’ Doros tells The Washington Post. ‘I’m happy that one of the great documentaries of all time has been accepted. It further legitimizes [the National Film Registry] as the most important list of films in the country for educators, librarians and the public.’

Milk became one of the first openly gay elected officials in US history when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

By that time, Milk had already made a name for himself fighting hard against discrimination – including Proposition 6, a ballot initiative that would have made firing gay teachers—and any public school employees who supported gay rights—mandatory. It lost by a million votes.

As a supervisor, Milk was responsible for passing a stringent gay rights ordinance for the city. But just 11 months into his term, he and Mayor George Moscone were murdered at City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White.

The Times of Harvey Milk documents Milk’s rise from a neighborhood activist to a symbol of gay political achievement, through to his assassination in November 1978, and through White’s trial and aftermath.

The film was directed by Rob Epstein, produced by Richard Schmiechen, and narrated by Harvey Fierstein.

Each year, 25 films deemed historically, culturally and aesthetically important enough are designated for preservation by the registry which was created in 1989. There had been a lack of LGBT films included in the past Other films selected this year include Breakfast at Tiffanys, A Christmas Story, The Matrix, Born Yesterday, Dirty Harry and A League of Their Own.