Harvey Milk Day

Bill Number: SB 572

This bill would require the governor proclaim May 22 each year as Harvey Milk Day. It would encourage public schools and educational institutions to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date. 
 

Status: Introduced on February 27, 2009, passed the California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee by a 9-4 margin. Passed Senate by a 25-12 bipartisan vote. Passed Assembly Education Committee by a 6-1 vote. Passed Assembly by a 45-27 vote. Passed Senate concurrence vote by 22-14 with bipartisan support.  Signed into law by Governor Schwarzengger on October 11.

Lead Author: Senator Mark Leno  

Principal Co-Authors: Senator Kehoe and Assembly Members Ammiano and John A. Pérez

RESOURCES:

• SB 572 Fact Sheet (.doc)
• SB 572 Sample Letter of Support (.doc)
• Official Legislative Documents
  

PRESS RELEASES:

• Equality California Presents Award on Behalf of State of California Honoring Harvey Milk
  1-14-2009
• EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors Statement on Milk Oscar Wins
  2-23-2009
• Oscar Winner Sean Penn Leads Calls for Harvey Milk Day
  3-3-2009 View Photos >>
• Equality California's Harvey Milk Day Bill Wins Key Senate Committee Vote
  4-14-2009
• Youth Meet with Lawmakers to call for Harvey Milk Day, Better Access to Mental Health Services
  4-20-2009
• Oscar Winner Dustin Lance Black Testifies in Support of Harvey Milk Day
  5-6-2009 View Photos >> 
• Harvey Milk Day Bill Passes Senate
  5-14-2009
• Harvey Milk Day Bill Passes Key Assembly Committee
  6-18-2009
• President Obama to Bestow Presidential Medal of Freedom on Harvey Milk
  6-30-2009
• Governor Schwarzenegger, First Lady Maria Shriver Will Induct Harvey Milk into California Hall of Fame
  8-25-2009
• California Assembly Passes Harvey Milk Day Bill
  9-3-2009
• Harvey Milk Day Bill Heading to Governor’s Desk
  9-8-2009
• Equality California Delivers Close to 40K Petitions Urging Governor to Sign Harvey Milk Day Bill into Law
  9-10-2009
• Governor Signs Harvey Milk Day and Marriage Recognition Bills
  10-12-2009
  

BACKGROUND:

• To learn more about this courageous civil rights leader, check out the Oscar-winning film Milk, or the Oscar-winning documentary The Times of Harvey Milk.
• Read a letter from a former Harvey Milk intern.
• Read Dustin Lance Black's testimony before the Senate Education Committee on our blog.