Will California Finally Get Harvey Milk Day?
What it’s take, an act of Congress to get Harvey Milk Day on the books? Just about. California’s Senate Education Committee voted 7-2 today to move to the full Senate a bill that would make Harvey Milk Day — May 22, Milk’s birthday — a statewide reality. Dustin Lance Black was on hand to testify about the significance (i.e. an openly gay man on every calendar!), though Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year. [AP]
People in state Senator Abel Maldonado’s district should express support for him (and anyone in CA as well). He was the only Republican on the committee to vote in favor, and he sharply questioned someone for suggesting Harvey Milk Day would “harm” students.
Although that being said, I think that state holidays should track federal ones. It always weirded me out that I didn’t have to go to work on Cesar Chavez Day.
As a former Californian, it’s PAST friggin’ time for this. Make it happen, and honor our own. We deserve to be a full part of this country’s history and public record. And what does a day of recognition cost? Virtually nothing.
I certainly hope this passes and that it is signed in to law. It will be interesting to see how schools such as the “blue-ribbon” Corona del Mar High School of recent school-edition RENT fame will choose to observe this significant day.