SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) teamed up with San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano and Community College student Lance Chih today in favor of a bill, sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), formally recognizing the legacy of civil rights pioneer, Harvey Milk. The bill requires the Governor to proclaim May 22 as Harvey Milk Day, and designates it as a “day of special significance” in California, encouraging schools to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on his life and contributions to the state. Given the state’s fiscal crisis, the bill was written to have no additional impact on the budget, and state workers and school employees would not get the day off from work.
“Given the alarming rates of suicide, depression, substance abuse, bullying and violence against LGBT youth in our schools, the bill aims to give LGBT and straight students alike a positive representative of who LGBT people are that inspires pride and self-esteem rather than fear and shame,” stated bill author Assemblyman Mark Leno. “That is what Harvey was all about. He was a true American hero who gave hope to a generation of gay and lesbian individuals, and this bill will help honor and preserve his legacy for years to come.”
“Harvey challenged gay people to come out of the closets and into the streets to demand full and equal participation in all aspects of civic life, even at great personal risk to themselves,” stated San Francisco Supervisor Tom Ammiano, a former teacher and friend of Harvey’s. “Establishing a day of commemoration in our schools so that students can learn about and be proud of his accomplishments and leadership on behalf of all people’s civil rights is a fitting and important way to honor his legacy,” he said
“Harvey Milk knowingly risked his life because he believed that by living as an openly gay man he would help achieve full equality for all people,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “His courageous leadership and vision has inspired three decades of progress in the fight to protect LGBT people across the nation. A statewide day of recognition in his honor would remind us that we all have the power to create positive social change and that we all have the right to live openly and with dignity and respect.”
Harvey Milk was born on May 22, 1930 and settled in the Castro district of San Francisco in 1972 where he and his partner opened a camera store. In 1977, Milk became the first openly gay elected official of any large city in the United States, and only the third openly gay elected official in the nation. While in office, Milk worked to pass a gay rights ordinance and defeat Proposition 6, commonly known as the Briggs Initiative, which would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. Milk encouraged LGBT people to be visible in society and believed coming out was the only way they could achieve true social equality. Tragically, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco on November 27, 1978 by a deeply homophobic former colleague on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The bill now moves onto the Assembly floor for a vote in the coming weeks.
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