Here we go again!

A new fight is brewing in California! 

Legislation  being brought before Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would set aside a day of recognition for Harvey Milk, the openly gay San Francisco politician assassinated in 1978.

The bill, which would designate Milk’s birthday, May 22, a day of “special significance,” was passed by both houses of the Democratic-controlled Legislature this week and immediately drew a news conference in opposition and an outpouring of phone calls, e-mail messages and faxes to Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican.

While the day of recognition — of which there are only three in California, for John Muir, teachers and the California poppy — would impose no specific requirements on schools or close state offices, opponents say the tribute could encourage discussion of Milk and gay issues in public schools. State law encourages schools to observe days of recognition and “conduct suitable commemorative exercises.”

 

“The bill is so broad it could encompass all kinds of things,” said Randy Thomasson (left), Right Wing Witch and president of SaveCalifornia.com, (HISSSSSSSS.  BOOOOOOOOOOOO)  who has been active in opposing same-sex marriage in the state. “Remembering the life of Harvey Milk could allow for gay pride parades on campus or mock gay weddings or cross-dressing. There is no prohibition of what the bill calls ‘suitable commemorative exercises.’ The sky’s the limit.” -oh, God forbid!

 

So far, the governor’s automated phone line for constituents has received more than 100,000 calls about the bill, most against it, according to Mr. Schwarzenegger’s office. (It is common for the governor’s office to set up lines that register positions on a bill with the push of a button; another attention-getting bill this session would prevent store owners from refusing service to customers who do not speak English.)

Mr. Schwarzenegger has not indicated whether he will sign the Milk measure, but he vetoed a version of it last year, arguing that the man it saluted ought to be commemorated in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he lived and worked. Milk, an advocate of gay rights, was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 and was killed the following year.

Well,  one can always have hope!


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