Harvey Milk Day Bill Clears Senate

The bill authored by openly gay democratic Senator Mark Leno designating each May 22, as  "Milk Day" has been approved by the California Senate with a 24-14 bipartisan vote.

Commemorating  slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk's birthday,  the legislation would mark each May 22, as a statewide day of "special significance" to pay homage to the late San Francisco supervisor's contributions to the state.

The measure would not be an official holiday and hence would be of no cost to the state government. It encourages but doesn't require schools to teach about Milk's life and legacy.

"Harvey Milk is an inspiration to Californians who believe in fairness and equality," Leno said in a statement. "He fought for many of the issues we value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing, and the environment. Harvey Milk gave his life for what he believed in."

Milk, who represented the Castro while on the board, was assassinated along with then-Mayor George Moscone by ex-Supervisor Dan White in November 1978. He was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California.

The bill now heads to the Assembly to be petitioned for House approval before reaching Governor Arnold Schwarzeneger's desk. The governor vetoed a nearly identical bill last year on the grounds that each community ought to be able to choose if it wanted to honor Milk. The Bill supporters hope that the success of the 2008 motion picture based on the life and assassination of Harvey Milk will sway the Republican governor from his previous decision.

A spokesman for Schwarzenegger, Aaron McLear, said the governor had not taken a position yet on the current bill.