We're 50, y'all! Join us for UNSTOPPABLE, the largest, grandest, queerest Gayla in our history. From the doors we've kicked open, to the policies we've written and advocated for, to the communities we've organized and mobilized, the impact of the Milk Club is undeniable, and we're just getting started.
Let's celebrate our victories and organize for the next 50 years.
Secure your seats now--our Gayla sells out every year! We are very excited to host our 50th anniversary at our largest venue yet, the San Francisco Design Center Galleria. This is one you won't want to miss! Additional information about the evening to come soon. For any questions, please email events@milkclub.org.
Leon Russell - Chairman, National NAACP
Inaugural Harvey Milk Give 'Em Hope Award
Our 2026 Awardees
"It is my sincere honor to receive the Harvey Milk “Give em Hope Award” on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Harvey Milk was a courageous member of a community of people who suffered the indignity of societal otherism. He fearlessly challenged the people of his community to recognize the value of public service and the value of opening the doors of governmental leadership that all people can bring to that community. He taught us that turning “hope” into civic engagement can make a difference for all of us. I hope that I, individually and the NAACP as an organization can continue to turn “Hope” into productive action. I am truly humbled to be recognized with this prestigious award."
Leon Russell - Chairman, NAACP
Golden State Valkyries
Community Ally Award
Martha Wash
Sylvester James Pride in the Arts Award
Sylvester James, Jr., known as singer-songwriter Sylvester, was born on September 6, 1947, in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. While growing up, he immersed himself in gospel singing at his Pentecostal Church, but eventually left as the congregation showed disapproval of his homosexuality. Sylvester moved to San Francisco in 1972, where he became a part of other local countercultures. He joined the drag troupe, The Cockettes, and later formed a rock group, Sylvester and his Hot Band. His recording career took off from a contract with Fantasy Records. After the 1977 release of “Sylvester”, his second album, “Step II”, received tremendous acclaim. The record included “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real” which became a gay anthem, especially in San Francisco, which was receiving a large influx of LGBT residents. Sylvester’s distinctive falsetto voice, flamboyant personae, and gender-bending characteristics made him one of the Disco Era’s most popular artists. He spent much of his last decade in the fight against AIDS. Sylvester died from AIDS complications on December 16, 1988. The Sylvester Pride in the Arts Award is presented to participants in the arts who embrace Sylvester’s vision of queer creative expression and its social and cultural contributions.
Chinese Progressive Association
Eileen Hansen Social Justice Hero Award
Eileen Hansen was born on May 1, 1951 and grew up in Salt Lake City. She was engaged in social justice and anti-war movements beginning at a young age. Eileen moved east and ran the largest social service organization in Boston’s Chinatown. With her partner, Denise Wells, Eileen relocated to San Francisco in 1985 and continued her efforts for the rights of women, communities of color and queers. Eileen was a vocal Jewish advocate of the solidarity movement with the people of Palestine. She exemplified the extraordinary contributions made by lesbians during the AIDS pandemic. Eileen served as executive director of the National Lawyers Guild’s ADIS Project and the Marin AIDS Support Network as well as policy director for the AIDS Referral Panel. Eileen was a Milk Club PAC Co-Chair in 1992 and played a big role in the club’s leadership of the Coalition for a Fair City Budget. She ran for District 8 Supervisor in 2000 and 2002 in close elections. After serving on the Commission for Public Building Inspection, Eileen was often the lone vote on the city’s Ethics Commission from 2005 to 2011. Eileen’s tireless efforts were represented in countless organizations, coalitions and movements. She died on April 29, 2016 after a long and brave battle with cancer. The Eileen Hansen Social Justice Award is presented to celebrate Eileen’s continuing legacy for social justice.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee
Bayard Rustin Civil Rights Award
Bayard Rustin was born on March 17, 1913, in Pennsylvania to a family that was involved in civil rights work. In 1936, he moved to Harlem and became active with the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the War Resisters League. He emerged as a leading member of the Civil Rights Movement and helped spearhead a 1947 Freedom Ride to challenge, through civil disobedience, racial segregation in interstate bus travel. Bayard taught Martin Luther King, Jr. about Mahatma Gandhi’s movement, emphasizing non-violent resistance. The two of them helped organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Bayard was the chief organizer for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. A gay man who had been arrested for homosexual activity in 1953, Bayard’s sexuality and criminal charge drew criticism as being impediments on the Civil Rights Movement. Hence, Bayard was less of a public spokesman but remained a highly skillful player behind the scenes. He mastered extensive coalition-building, linking unions, civil rights activists, religious leaders, and academics to address racism in organized labor and other issues of socioeconomic justice. During his final two decades, Bayard traveled on many humanitarian delegations around the world, including his trip to Haiti, where he died in 1987. The award in Bayard’s name is set aside for efforts in the ongoing struggle to advance civil rights.
San Francisco Labor Council
Bill Kraus Leadership Award
A Kentucky native, Bill Kraus was born in 1947 and grew up in Cincinnati. He moved to San Francisco in 1976 and volunteered on Harvey Milk’s 1977 campaign for supervisor. Bill’s strategic abilities led to his co-director role in the fight to defeat 1978’s Proposition 6, The Briggs Initiative. He served as the third Milk Club president during 1979-80. His leadership helped shape a membership experiencing major growth and political influence. Subsequently, Bill worked as an aide to Congressman Phil Burton and later to Congresswoman Sala Burton. In the 1980s, he joined many other LGBT Community members in the solidarity movement opposing U.S. intervention in Central America. When AIDS surfaced in 1981, Bill was among San Francisco’s most vocal activists demanding a response to the rapidly growing pandemic. Bill’s legendary refrain of “Doesn’t anybody care?” continued to underscore the inaction of government and greater society. Bill was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984 and remained outspoken until his death on January 11, 1986.
Nuevo Sol Day Labor & Domestic Worker Center
Hank Wilson Activist Award
Hank Wilson was one of the Milk Club’s founding members. A Sacramento native, Hank moved to San Francisco in the 1970s where he was a kindergarten and grade school teacher. He worked with fellow teacher Tom Ammiano to form the Gay Teachers Coalition that challenged discrimination against gay educators. Hank was recognized as a principal player in the successful campaign to defeat the Briggs Initiative in 1978. He had the vision and ability to play a role in establishing numerous organizations, including Gay Youth Advocacy Council, the Tenderloin AIDS Network, and the Committee to Monitor Poppers. Beginning in the 1970s, Hank devoted most of his energy to providing services to low-income communities. He and Ron Lanza assumed the leadership of several SRO hotels in the Tenderloin and the Valencia Rose, a queer performing arts venue. Hank helped create and coordinate a network of caregivers to assist a large number of Tenderloin residents with HIV/AIDS. His activism led to securing city funding and opening the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center. Hank helped initiate the historic write-In campaign for Tom Ammiano’s run for mayor in 1999. He remained an invaluable community teacher and role model at countless meetings until his death from cancer on November 9, 2008. The Hank Wilson Activist Award is presented for continuing Hank’s legacy of empowering the disenfranchised.
California Nurses Association
Jazzie Collins Transgender Rights & Culture Award
Jazzy Collins was a highly respected and prolific socioeconomic justice activist as well as an openly HIV positive transgender community leader. She was born to a teen mother on September 24, 1958 in Memphis, Tennessee. Jazzy moved to San Francisco in 1988 and began her transition in her late 40s. In 2002, she organized her fellow tenants at the Plaza Hotel when the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency attempted to demolish the building. During 2002-2004, Jazzy worked at the Mission Agenda, served as an organizer for the South of Market Community Action Network and advocated for housing and land use issues at City Hall. She was on the board of the Western SOMA Plan in 2005-2009 and chaired the SOMA Stabilization Committee in 2006. In 2010, Jazzy became an organizer for Senior Action Network and later served as vice chair of San Francisco’s LGBT Aging Policy Task Force. She was also an active Harvey Milk Club member and served on the Trans March Board. In June 2013, Jazzy was honored for her activism by the LGBT Caucus at the State Capitol. After a week of hospitalization, Jazzy died surrounded by many friends on July 11, 2013. Jazzy will be long remembered for her passionate advocacy on behalf of low-income, immigrant, queer and senior San Franciscans. The Jazzy Collins Award is presented to one or more individuals who advance the quest for transgender rights and cultural recognition.
Guy “The Flower Man” Clark
Harry Britt Lifetime Achievement Award
Harry Britt was born on June 8, 1938, and grew up in Port Arthur, Texas. He attended Duke University and later lived in Chicago, where he became involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Harry moved to San Francisco in 1972, where he came out as a gay man and volunteered on Harvey Milk’s campaigns. He served as the Milk Club’s second president in 1978. His community leadership spoke to the grief and anger in the wake of Milk and Moscone's assassinations and the White Night Riot, following Dan White’s voluntary manslaughter verdict. In January 1979, Mayor Dianne Feinstein appointed Harry to Harvey’s vacant supervisor seat. Harry spent the next fourteen years as the Board of Supervisors’ progressive champion, strengthening rent control, enacting landmark domestic partners legislation, and fighting for enhanced healthcare access during the height of the AIDS crisis. He ran for Congress in 1987 and was a close second to Nancy Pelosi in her first run. Harry has served on the faculty of the New School and has been active with the Atheist Community since. He can still be counted on to show his support for socio-economic justice. His namesake award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated commitment to progressive values over the course of one’s lifetime.
50th Anniversary Gayla Sponsorship Levels
50th Anniversary Gayla Chair (Limit 1) - $50,000
Includes: Recognition as Gayla Chair, Remarks during the Gayla program, Three 8-person tables (24 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Full back cover advertisement space on program book, Three (3) printed banners hung in the venue, Logo displayed on stage during the event, Logo displayed in the program book, Logo on all printed materials and social media, Six (6) pay-it-forward tickets to go to hardworking volunteers and supporters who couldn’t otherwise participate.
Unstoppable Concert Host(Limit 1) -$25,000
Includes: Recognition as Unstoppable Concert Host, Brief greetings during the concert program, Two 8-person tables (16 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), an additional 24 tickets to the Concert Celebration, Full page advertisement in the program book, Two (2) printed banners hung in the venue, Logo displayed on stage during the Concert Celebration, Logo displayed in the program book, Logo on all printed materials and social media, Four (4) pay-it-forward tickets to go to hardworking volunteers and supporters who couldn’t otherwise participate.
Legacy Collection Host (Limit 1) - $20,000
Includes: Recognition as Sponsor of the 50th Anniversary Memorabilia Collection, Logo on Memorabilia Collection Photobooth and throughout the collection exhibit, Two 8-person tables (16 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Full page advertisement in the program book, Two (2) printed banners hung in the venue, Logo displayed on stage during the event, Logo displayed in the program book, Logo on all printed materials and social media, Four (4) pay-it-forward tickets to go to hardworking volunteers and supporters who couldn’t otherwise participate.
Includes: Two 8-person tables (16 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), 4 additional tickets to the Concert Celebration, Full page advertisement in the program book, Two (2) printed banners hung in the venue, Logo displayed in the program book, Logo on all printed materials and social media, Four (4) pay-it-forward tickets to go to hardworking volunteers and supporters who couldn’t otherwise participate.
Two 8-person tables (16 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Full page advertisement in the program book, One (1) printed banner hung in the venue, Logo displayed on table during the event, Logo displayed in the program book, Logo on all printed materials and social media.
One 10-person table (10 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Full page advertisement in the program book, Logo displayed on table during the event, Logo displayed in the program book, Logo on all printed materials and social media.
One 8-person table (8 tickets for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Half page advertisement in the program book, Logo displayed on table during the event, Logo displayed in the program book, Mention on social media, Two (2) pay-it-forward tickets to go to hardworking volunteers and supporters who couldn’t otherwise participate.
Five (5) Gayla tickets (for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Half page advertisement in the program book, Logo displayed on table during the event, Logo displayed in the program book, Mention on social media.
Four (4) Gayla tickets (for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Logo displayed in the program book, Mention on social media.
Two (2) Gayla tickets (for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Name displayed in the program book, Mention on social media.
One (1) Gayla ticket (for the reception, dinner, and Concert Celebration), Name displayed in the program book.
