Harvey Milk Day is organized by the
Harvey Milk Foundation and celebrated each year on May 22 in memory of
Harvey Milk
Harvey Bernard Milk (May 22, 1930 – November 27, 1978) was an American politician and the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Milk was born and raised in ...
, a
gay rights
Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality.
Notably, , ...
activist who
was assassinated in 1978. Harvey Milk was a prominent gay activist during the 20th century. He ran for office three times before becoming the first openly gay person elected into California public office, where he acted as a city supervisor. Harvey Milk Day came about as a day to remember and teach about Milk's life and his work to stop discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.
California Day of Special Significance
In California, Harvey Milk Day is recognized by the state's government as a day of special significance for public schools.
[Kristin Weigle, Harvey Milk Day: Chapter 626 Gives a Controversial Figure's Birthday Special Significance for California Public Schools](_blank)
41 McGeorge Law Review 558 (2010) The day was established by the California legislature and signed into law by Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, film producer, businessman, retired professional bodybuilder and politician who served as the 38th governor of California between 2003 and 2011. ''Time'' ...
in 2009 after a series of petitions led by gay rights activist Daren I. Ball
and in the wake of the award-winning feature film ''
Milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulat ...
'' retracing Milk's life.
Legislative history
See also
*
Public holidays in the United States
The schedule of public holidays in the United States is largely influenced by the schedule of federal holidays but is controlled by private sector employers who provide 62% of the total U.S. population with paid time off.
Public holidays with ...
References
External links
Harvey Milk FoundationOfficial Harvey Milk Day Website
May observances
Public holidays in the United States
LGBT events in California
LGBT law in the United States
California law
2009 in American law
2009 in LGBT history
2008 in American law
2008 in LGBT history
Harvey Milk
LGBT politics in the United States
State holidays in the United States
{{Holiday-stub