For the second time in as many years the California Assembly has passed – with votes to spare – a bill that would establish May 22 as a special day of significance to honor Harvey Milk.  Last year’s iteration of the bill was eventually vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who insisted that Milk was a figure of only local importance in San Francisco, and that any measure honoring him best be handled there.  This was before Gus Van Sant’s film Milk won Oscars, before Harvey Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and before he was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

The bill makes the following statements about the proposed Day of Significance:

This bill would provide that the Governor proclaim May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day, and would designate that date as having special significance in public schools and educational institutions and would encourage those entities to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date. … On Harvey Milk Day, exercises remembering the life of Harvey Milk, recognizing his accomplishments, and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to this state.

Supporters of the legislation can contact the Governor’s office to urge him to sign the bill into law.