A network of Long Island gay and lesbian advocacy groups is honoring slain gay rights activist Harvey Milk this weekend.
Milk's nephew, Stuart Milk, will accept the award on Saturday from the Long Island Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Services Network.
Harvey Milk grew up on Long Island and graduated from high school there in the late 1940s. He kept his sexuality a well-guarded secret while living there.
Milk moved out to San Francisco in 1972 and ran for office several times before he earned a spot in city government in 1977. After 10 months on the job as a city supervisor, he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by a former city supervisor. Milk died at age 48.
David Kilmnick, the network's executive director, says he hopes the award will draw attention to the plight of gays and lesbians in the suburbs.
Kilmnick says people should be able to live openly gay lives in small-town America without having to flock to gay friendly meccas like New York City, San Francisco or Atlanta.
Milk's life inspired the movie "Milk," which released late last year and won two Oscars in February.
