• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Design Hunting
  • New York Weddings
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • Motherhood
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Science of Us
  • Horoscopes
  • Ask Polly
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
gallery
June 27, 2017

This Photographer Chronicled the LGBT Rights Movement in 1970s San Francisco

By Danielle Cohen

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
Photo: © Daniel Nicoletta

Last weekend, people painted buildings, streets, and T-shirts in rainbow hues for Pride parades in cities across the U.S. In San Francisco, this year marked the 40th anniversary of Harvey Milk’s becoming the first openly gay person elected to public office in California. The vibrant shades that coated avenues across the city can be traced back to Milk’s brief time as the city supervisor, when he commissioned the flag from fellow activist Gilbert Baker for the ninth annual San Francisco Pride parade in 1978 — it was, at the time, called the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day parade.

About a mile and a half from where the San Francisco Pride Parade ended last Sunday, you’ll find Castro Camera, the photo shop turned campaign headquarters where Milk rallied the people who helped bring him to office. One such individual was photographer Daniel Nicoletta, who moved to San Francisco at age 20 and got a job at Castro Camera, snapping images that would become iconic photos in the history of LGBT activism — one photograph of Milk became a Forever stamp. Nicoletta’s proximity to Milk’s life brought him back to the campaign 30 years after Milk was assassinated, when renowned director Gus Van Sant turned to Nicoletta to help him tell the story of the politician’s life on the set of the Academy Award–winning film Milk. Nicoletta was a consultant and set photographer for the film.

Since his stint at Castro Camera, Nicoletta has captured a whirlwind of images throughout 40 years of the LGBT-rights movement, from the campaign that brought Milk into office to the film that told his story. LGBT San Francisco: The Daniel Nicoletta Photographs, out today from Reel Art Press, represents the first published collection of Nicoletta’s work. The book frequently juxtaposes images of 1970s events with on-set shots from the 2008 film, showing actors reenacting the same scenes in Milk. There are panoramic shots of pride marches on Castro Street, drag performances RuPaul could only dream of, and some NSFW costumes. Click ahead to preview the book.

LGBT: San Francisco: The Daniel Nicoletta Photographs
$40 now 33% off
$27
$27 at Amazon
Buy
$27 at Amazon
Buy

If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

View
1 / 15 Photos
Harvey Milk for Supervisor campaign volunteers form a human billboard to greet morning commuters. Harry Britt, Carol Carolson, Harvey Milk et al., 197... Harvey Milk for Supervisor campaign volunteers form a human billboard to greet morning commuters. Harry Britt, Carol Carolson, Harvey Milk et al., 1976. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade, administrative assistant Anne Kronenberg and recently elected supervisor Harvey Milk. June 26, 1978. Photo: © 2016 d... San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade, administrative assistant Anne Kronenberg and recently elected supervisor Harvey Milk. June 26, 1978. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Ron and Sany Severini from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown school prepare Harvey (one of six SF celebrities chosen) for an editorial in C... Ron and Sany Severini from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown school prepare Harvey (one of six SF celebrities chosen) for an editorial in California Living Magazine about the circus. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Harvey Milk in front of his Castro Street camera store, circa 1977. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Castro street on Harvey’s birthday, the day after the White Night riots, May 22, 1979. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3... Castro street on Harvey’s birthday, the day after the White Night riots, May 22, 1979. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Castro Street Fair, August 1976. Photo: © 2007 by Daniel Nicoletta all rights reserved 415.6655930 dannic@covad.net
Castro Street Fair, moveable art piece by Violet Ray, August 15, 1982. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@chart... Castro Street Fair, moveable art piece by Violet Ray, August 15, 1982. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Castro Street Fair, Leon Lott, December Wright, and Larry Williams, August 1976. Photo: © 2007 by Daniel Nicoletta all rights reserved 415.6655930 da... Castro Street Fair, Leon Lott, December Wright, and Larry Williams, August 1976. Photo: © 2007 by Daniel Nicoletta all rights reserved 415.6655930 dannic@covad.net
Castro Street Fair, Peppe Olvadez (far left), August 1977. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Castro Street Fair, Harmodius and Hoti, August 1975. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Robert Morgan as David Hockney, June 27, 1982. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Club Chaos and Klubstitute float in the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@cha... Club Chaos and Klubstitute float in the San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
San Francisco LGBT Pride, June 24, 1990. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
Scout, Castro Street, June 20, 2015. Photo: © 2016 dannynicoletta.com all rights reserved 415-310-3072 dannic@charter.net
LGBT: San Francisco: The Daniel Nicoletta Photographs, published by Reel Art Press.
1 / 15

Tags:

  • gallery
  • lgbtq rights
  • lgbt rights
  • san francisco
  • slideshows
  • pride
  • harvey milk
  • More

More Galleries

in memoriam Dec. 30, 2020
30 Incredible Fashion Moments From Pierre Cardin  Remembering a creative visionary. 
By Andrew Nguyen
rest in power Dec. 23, 2020
A Photo Memorial for an Iconic Model  She passed away suddenly at the age of 50 this week. 
campaign trail Nov. 18, 2020
‘Tis the Season for New Fashion Ads  See the best ones from Gucci, Prada, Versace, and more. 
By Emily Burns
nyfw spring 2021 Oct. 26, 2020
How a Great Collection Comes Alive  Christopher John Rogers launched its first-ever online shop, along with a new campaign. 
By Andrew Nguyen
campaign trail Sept. 24, 2020
See the Fashion Campaigns for Fall 2020  From Prada, Michael Kors, Celine, Louis Vuitton, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
nyfw spring 2021 Sept. 22, 2020
See the Coach Spring 2021 Collection  Worn by Megan Thee Stallion, Kate Moss, Cole Sprouse, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
fashion Sept. 16, 2020
The Stunning Awkwardness of Face Masks on the Red Carpet  Celebrities tried to make the best of a strange situation at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. 
one word one shot Sept. 15, 2020
72 Designers on Their Spring/Summer Inspirations  Just in time for Fashion Week. 
By the Cut
red carpet Sept. 8, 2020
This Red Carpet Was Totally Surreal  But also amazing. See all the looks at the Venice Film Festival. 
By Emilia Petrarca and Andrew Nguyen
in memoriam Aug. 31, 2020
Remembering Chadwick Boseman on the Red Carpet  His style was bold, risk-taking, and always impeccable. 
the wedding files Aug. 21, 2020
The Design-Minded Couple Who Didn’t Want to Try Too Hard  The bride got a wonderful surprise the morning of her wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 14, 2020
A Costa Rica Wedding During the Rainy Season  Thunder roared during the toasts. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 7, 2020
A San Francisco Wedding at a Big, Empty Pier  The bride changed into crushed-velvet pants for the disco-infused reception. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 31, 2020
An Elopement Among the Lupines in Iceland  The late afternoon was spent snapping photos near waterfalls and black beaches. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 24, 2020
A Pennsylvania Potluck for 280 People  “I looked at her for the first time and had this feeling like, You. I know you.” 
By Kaitlin Menza
milan fashion week July 22, 2020
Behind the Scenes at Gucci’s Virtual Show  Instead of models, members of the design team sported the eccentric collection. 
By Andrew Nguyen
the wedding files July 17, 2020
A Dance Party Under Puerto Rican Palm Trees  Bad Bunny blasted and pitorro flowed. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 10, 2020
A Zoom Wedding Only Two Digital Creatives Could Produce  The couple coordinated multiple video segments, breakout rooms, and a dance party. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 3, 2020
The Anti-Spectacle Wedding That Turned Into a Spectacle  Brooklyn Bridge Park was the site of their first date, proposal, and wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files June 26, 2020
A Night at the Philadelphia Museum of Art  The flowers were specially treated to protect the masterpieces. 
By Kaitlin Menza
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.