The United States Postal Service, who has historically held antiquated beliefs regarding the LGBT community, have now marched into modernity with a stamp that honors gay rights activist Harvey Milk. The stamp was unveiled in a ceremony on Thursday and is in circulation now.

According to the USPS's press release:

The public is invited to attend the May 28 Harvey Milk Forever Stamp special dedication ceremony in San Francisco. Details on the time and location will be forthcoming. Customers may order the Harvey Milk stamp now through this link for delivery following the May 22 stamp issuance.

Harvey Milk, the US' first openly gay elected official, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2009. In Thursday's unveiling ceremony, US ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, told the press:

"While we now do live in an age where the National Football League has for the first time drafted an openly gay man [Michael Sam], we still live in an age where the NFL can fire him for being gay," she said.

"Postage stamps will not change that, legislation will."

Nancy Pelosi, Representative John Lewis, and Senator Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay woman to serve in congress, were all in attendance at the ceremony.

According to the Washington Post:

Anne Kronenberg, co-founder of the Harvey Milk foundation and campaign manager of Milk's successful election to public office, said it's almost ironic that Milk is on a stamp.

"During our campaign we didn't have enough money for postage," Kronenberg said. "So Harvey, here you are today on a United States Postage stamp and I say this is a wonderful thing because you will be there forever."

[Image via AP]