Senator Leno's Harvey Milk Day Bill Passes Full Legislature
California Political Desk
September 04, 2009
SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly today passed legislation that creates Harvey Milk Day in California, honoring the state´s first openly gay elected official. Senate Bill 572, authored by Senator Mark Leno, cleared the Assembly with a 45-27 vote. The bill, which designates May 22 as a day of special significance in California, returns to the Senate for concurrence before going to the governor´s desk.
"I am pleased my colleagues in the Assembly recognize and honor Harvey Milk´s contributions to our state," said Senator Leno (D-San Francisco). "He is an inspiration to people worldwide who believe in fairness and equality and he fought for many of the issues we value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing and protecting the environment.
"Although he vetoed a similar bill last year with the message that Harvey Milk should be recognized only at the local level, I am confident Governor Schwarzenegger now understands the historic and international nature of Harvey´s legacy," said Senator Leno. "Last week the Governor contradicted his 2008 veto message when he and the First Lady announced that Harvey will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, acknowledging that Harvey and the other inductees touched the ´lives of millions of people – not just in this state, but around the world.´"
SB 572 recognizes Harvey Milk´s life and contributions to the state with a day of special significance. Given California´s fiscal crisis, the bill has no cost to the state and state workers and school employees do not receive the day off work. The legislation is sponsored by Equality California and co-authored by 22 members of the Legislature, including members of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, Senator Christine Kehoe and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano and John A. Pérez.
"Harvey Milk was a champion for seniors, for working people and for those who didn´t have a voice, and his courageous work set the stage for many of the key civil rights advances we enjoy today," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California (EQCA), the sponsor of SB 572. "His remarkable legacy is still felt far beyond San Francisco. As such, we urge Governor Schwarzenegger to recognize Harvey Milk´s tremendous contributions to our state and to our nation, just as President Obama has, by signing the Harvey Milk Day bill into law."
Harvey Milk settled in the Castro district of San Francisco in 1972, where he and his partner opened a camera store. Fives years later, Milk became the first openly gay man elected to public office in California and only the third openly gay elected official in the nation. During his short political career as a San Francisco Supervisor, he fought for social change and championed many issues, including equal civil rights. His fundamental belief that all people should be treated with respect paved the way for the populist movement he pioneered for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. His legacy continues to inspire the LGBT community to this day. Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were tragically assassinated on November 27, 1978.
"I am pleased my colleagues in the Assembly recognize and honor Harvey Milk´s contributions to our state," said Senator Leno (D-San Francisco). "He is an inspiration to people worldwide who believe in fairness and equality and he fought for many of the issues we value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing and protecting the environment.
"Although he vetoed a similar bill last year with the message that Harvey Milk should be recognized only at the local level, I am confident Governor Schwarzenegger now understands the historic and international nature of Harvey´s legacy," said Senator Leno. "Last week the Governor contradicted his 2008 veto message when he and the First Lady announced that Harvey will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, acknowledging that Harvey and the other inductees touched the ´lives of millions of people – not just in this state, but around the world.´"
SB 572 recognizes Harvey Milk´s life and contributions to the state with a day of special significance. Given California´s fiscal crisis, the bill has no cost to the state and state workers and school employees do not receive the day off work. The legislation is sponsored by Equality California and co-authored by 22 members of the Legislature, including members of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, Senator Christine Kehoe and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano and John A. Pérez.
"Harvey Milk was a champion for seniors, for working people and for those who didn´t have a voice, and his courageous work set the stage for many of the key civil rights advances we enjoy today," said Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California (EQCA), the sponsor of SB 572. "His remarkable legacy is still felt far beyond San Francisco. As such, we urge Governor Schwarzenegger to recognize Harvey Milk´s tremendous contributions to our state and to our nation, just as President Obama has, by signing the Harvey Milk Day bill into law."
Harvey Milk settled in the Castro district of San Francisco in 1972, where he and his partner opened a camera store. Fives years later, Milk became the first openly gay man elected to public office in California and only the third openly gay elected official in the nation. During his short political career as a San Francisco Supervisor, he fought for social change and championed many issues, including equal civil rights. His fundamental belief that all people should be treated with respect paved the way for the populist movement he pioneered for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. His legacy continues to inspire the LGBT community to this day. Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were tragically assassinated on November 27, 1978.
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