Calif. panel OKs honors for gay leader Harvey Milk

Calif. panel OKs honors for gay leader Harvey Milk
By STEVE LAWRENCE, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, May 6, 2009


(05-06) 11:11 PDT Sacramento, CA (AP) --

A state Senate committee has approved legislation designating a day honoring slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk.

The bill would require the governor to designate each May 22 — Milk's birthday — as Harvey Milk Day.

It would be a "day of special significance" recognizing Milk's life and his contributions to the state but would not be a holiday, meaning there would be no cost to the state.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a nearly identical bill last year, saying it should be up to each community to determine if it wanted to honor Milk.

The bill's supporters hope the success of "Milk," the 2008 film about the former San Francisco supervisor, will encourage Schwarzenegger to change his mind if the bill reaches his desk.

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