State lawmakers are once again moving legislation to designate May 22 “Harvey Milk Day” in California.  The bill passed in a key Senate committee today and now moves on to the full Senate, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The law would designate a “day of special significance,” but would not add a state holiday to the calendar.  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation last year after heavy lobbying from social conservatives, saying Milk should more properly be honored as a local hero.  

Milk became the fifth openly gay elected official in U.S. history when was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.  He and then-Mayor George Moscone were assasinated at City Hall in 1978 by fellow supervisor Dan White.