John Dew originally suggested the idea for a stage work based on the life of Harvey Milk to David Gockley, then the general director of Houston Grand Opera.

[3][4][5] Christopher Alden was the director, with set designs by Paul Steinberg, choreography by Ross A. Perry,[6] and fight direction by Michael Kirkland.

Wallace tightened the score, and simplified the orchestration and the rhythmic notation, with a reduction in the opera's running time from nearly three hours to just over two.

The changes to the libretto included reduction of the role of Dan White and of the final act, and the addition of two new arias for Harvey Milk.

[10][11][12] San Francisco Opera premiered the revised version, then considered the definitive edition,[10] at the Orpheum Theatre on 9 November 1996 and ran for eight performances.

The November 27 performance was timed to coincide with the 18th annual candlelight march through the city's Castro District commemorating the day that Moscone and Milk were assassinated.

The march ended in front of the Orpheum Theatre, and several of Milk's friends and associates appeared in the opera's Act 2 parade scene.