Cesar and the UFW also coalesced in helping to defeat the CA Briggs ballot measure which would have disallowed LGBTQ individuals from being able to teach in public schools.
Cesar Chavez and Harvey Milk (Harvey Milk Foundation) were champions of justice, united by a powerful vision of human dignity and equality. While Cesar fought for farmworkers’ rights, Harvey broke barriers as one of the first openly gay elected officials advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights. Their shared commitment to uplifting marginalized communities shows the deep ties between labor and LGBTQIA+ movements.
Harvey Milk supported the farmworker movement, calling on his community to join the grape boycott. Years later, Cesar Chavez stood in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, helping lead the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. He joined hundreds of thousands calling for dignity, visibility, and inclusion.
At the National Chavez Center, we honor Cesar’s enduring legacy by remembering these moments of unity and continuing the work to uplift all people in the fight for justice.
by Victor Aleman