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Harvey Milk Day - Politics, Business, Civil, History - Posted: 1st Oct, 2008 - 7:39am
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Harvey Milk Day
California is set to proclaim May 22 as "Harvey Milk Day, to be celebrated in all public schools.
From Assembly Bill 2567:
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| BILL NUMBER: AB 2567 ENROLLED BILL TEXT PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 5, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 7, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE JULY 3, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 12, 2008 AB 2567, Leno. Harvey Milk Day: official designation.   Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim certain days each year for specified reasons. Existing law also designates particular days each year as having special significance in public schools and educational institutions and encourages those entities to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on those dates.   This bill would require the Governor to proclaim May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day, and would designate that date as having special significance in public schools and educational institutions and would encourage those entities to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date. ... SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following:   (a) Harvey Bernard Milk was born on May 22, 1930, in Woodmere, New York. He was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in a major city of the United States. He was assassinated in 1978 at San Francisco's City Hall by a political rival. Perhaps more than any other modern figure, Harvey Milk's life and political career embody the rise of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights movement in California, across the nation, and throughout the world. ... j) As an openly gay leader, Harvey Milk encouraged LGBT individuals to be visible in society. During the Gay Freedom Day Parade of June 25, 1978, he told the crowd, "Gay people, we will not win their rights by staying quietly in our closets."   (k) Harvey Milk was also successful in forging coalitions with San Francisco's other minority leaders. His message was one of unity against oppression in all its forms. In the same Gay Freedom Day speech, he said, "I call upon all minorities and especially the millions of lesbians and gay men to wake up from their dreams ... to gather on Washington and tell ... their nation: "Wake up ... wake up, America ... no more racism, no more sexism, no more ageism, no more hatred ... no more!" ... (y) Harvey Milk's life and social contributions have left an indelible mark on the history of our nation and hold a special meaning for the people of California. ... SEC. 2. Section 37222 of the Education Code is amended to read:   37222. (a) The following days in each year are designated and set apart as days having special significance: .... © It is the intent of the Legislature that the exercises encouraged in this section be integrated into the regular school program, and be conducted by the school or institution within the amount otherwise budgeted for educational programs.  SEC. 3. Section 6721 is added to the Government Code, to read:   6721. The Governor shall annually proclaim May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. |
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This passed in the Assembly and the Senate (divided by party lines, Democrats AYE and Republicans NAY), and is waiting now for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign it into law. How do you feel about public schools (grades kindergarten through 12) celebrating this proposed holiday?
Edited: FarSeer on 14th Sep, 2008 - 2:59pm
This passed in the Assembly and the Senate (divided by party lines, Democrats AYE and Republicans NAY), and is waiting now for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign it into law. How do you feel about public schools (grades kindergarten through 12) celebrating this proposed holiday?
| Rather off topic, but... Sean Penn is starring in the film biography of Harvey Milk, which is due to be released in November 2008. |
Edited: FarSeer on 14th Sep, 2008 - 2:59pmInternational Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 
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Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed the bill, saying:
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| In his veto message issued Tuesday, the governor said that while he respected the measure's intent, he thinks Milk's "contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level." |
Not sure what that means, but probably that it's okay to celebrate in San Francisco, where Milk was on the Board of Supervisors in 1977. Personally, I'd never heard of the man until this Assembly Bill came up.
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| Conservative groups had lobbied Schwarzenegger not to sign the legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco. Milk became the nation's first openly gay man to hold a prominent political office when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by a fellow supervisor in 1978. |
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TOPIC: Harvey Milk Day