The San Diego City Council unanimously voted to change the name of Blaine Avenue to Harvey Milk Street in Hillcrest on Tuesday.



Harvey Milk was the civil rights activist who was also the first openly gay man elected to public office in a major U.S. city. Milk was later shot and killed in 1978 when Supervisor Dan White shot him at San Francisco’s city hall.



San Diego is the first city in the country to honor Milk with a street bearing his name.



The cost of the signs for the name change has been paid for by private contributions, according to Councilmember Todd Gloria’s office.



“It is an honor to vote today to solidify Milk’s position as a true advocate for under-represented people, and a privilege to have my colleagues stand united with me for this historic action,” Gloria said in a statement.



Blaine Avenue will become Harvey Milk Street in time for Milk’s birthday on May 22.



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