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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
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9

Calif. Will Honor Harvey Milk

'Day of significance' commemorates gay rights pioneer

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(Newser) – Reversing his position on a bill he vetoed a year ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed off on bill making May 22 an annual day of recognition in  honor of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk. The San Francisco supervisor, who was assassinated in 1978, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom this year, which apparently helped change the governor's mind. "Milk has become much more of a symbol of the gay community" over the past year, a rep said.

In a flurry of bill-signing, Schwarzenegger also endorsed a measure requiring California to recognize same-sex marriages performed in states where they're legal. "This measure honors the will of the People in enacting Proposition 8 while providing important protections to those unions legally entered into in other states," he said in a signing statement.

Demonstrator Vanessa Li protests on the steps of the California Supreme Court in San Francisco, Wednesday June 3, 2009 to protest against the State Supreme Court's decision on Proposition 8.
Demonstrator Vanessa Li protests on the steps of the California Supreme Court in San Francisco, Wednesday June 3, 2009 to protest against the State Supreme Court's decision on Proposition 8.   (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
In this June 28, 1977, photo, gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk is pictured in his camera store on Castro Street in San Francisco.
In this June 28, 1977, photo, gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk is pictured in his camera store on Castro Street in San Francisco.   (AP Photo, FILE)
In this April 1977 photo, San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk (left) and Mayor George Moscone sit in the mayor's office during the signing of the city's gay rights bill.
In this April 1977 photo, San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk (left) and Mayor George Moscone sit in the mayor's office during the signing of the city's gay rights bill.   (AP Photo/File)
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, pictured with former British PM Tony Blair at the second Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles Oct. 2, 2009.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, pictured with former British PM Tony Blair at the second Governors' Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles Oct. 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
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9 comments
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rajanKazhmin
Oct 12, 09 5:54 PM CDT
A small step in the right direction. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+10
IN RESPONSE:
Nelstorm
Oct 12, 09 6:02 PM CDT
One small step for man, one giant leap for man-on-man.
Vote up! Vote down!
+6
IN RESPONSE:
my-name-here
Oct 12, 09 7:07 PM CDT
That's hilarious, Storm! I had the soda coming up through the nose! Thumbs up! Who says you can't be funny without being offensive?
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
deebles
Oct 12, 09 7:49 PM CDT
Odd. I just watched a documentary last night about closeted politicians called Outrage. It was very interesting about how the closeted gays in government tend to vote against all Gay Rights as a cloak to hide themselves further. Interesting to note that the man who invented Bush's anti-gay marriage platform for the 2004 election was actually gay himself. Interesting that they remain closeted because so much of the press is closeted, too. Like Shepherd Smith was gay until his ratings went up so high on Fox. The point is that if every gay influential person came out of the closet the Gay Rights Movement would be over. Or, as Milk said years ago--if we all come out, we could win--equality. There was a comment that Washington was more gay than SF--except closeted, because gay staffers keep the government running on time--no spouses and children to suck up hours.. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
rajanKazhmin
Oct 12, 09 8:03 PM CDT
Ya... Makes you a little bit sad.
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+1

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