CA may have the 1st “Gay Holiday” in USA!
California could make history by becoming the first state in the USA to have an official holiday for a gay person.
Assemblymember Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) has announced he will introduce a bill that would formally recognize the efforts of civil rights pioneer, Harvey Milk.
The legislation, if passed, would establish a non-fiscal state holiday in his name on the anniversary of Milk’s birth, May 22.
In 1977, when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors 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.
Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco on November 27, 1978.
…..
Leno’s bill would proclaim May 22nd ‘Harvey Milk Day’ and add it to the list of state holidays, although it will be crafted in a way so as not to generate additional state costs or increase the number of paid state holidays.
‘Harvey Milk Day’ will provide a forum to raise public awareness of Milk’s work to extend basic human rights to all people and demonstrate that each one of us possesses the ability to create extraordinary change in our communities, our country and the world,” Leno said.
…..
“Harvey Milk knowingly put his safety at risk and ultimately gave his life because he believed that living as an openly gay man would help achieve true equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors.
This is amazing. Harvey Milk is a true hero to GLBT Americans, and having a holiday in his name would be quite inspiring. I hope the bill passes so that Milk can be honored as he should be.
Tags: California, Harvey Milk, San Francisco
