State leg backs May 22 as "Harvey Milk Day"

The California Senate split along party lines Tuesday in narrowly approving legislation that would require the governor to proclaim May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day, in honor of the slain gay rights activist and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) said the bill by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) was appropriate to honor a man who, in 1977, became the first openly gay elected official of any large city in the United States and later made the cover of Time Magazine.

"His legacy as a civil rights leader is still felt today," she said.

Not one Republican voted for the bill, which also says the day shall have special significance in public school and other educational institutions and "encourages those entities to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date."

Sen. Dave Cox (R-Fair Oaks) said his vote against the measure had nothing to do with who was involved. "In school, we ought to concentrate on writing, reading and arithmetic," he said, adding that the schools don’t need other requirements placed on them by the Legislature.

The bill must return to the Assembly for concurrence on some minor amendments before it goes to the governor.

--Patrick McGreevy

Comments

[Steve]

Here we go again with the radical liberal Democratic agenda in California. Who in the world is 'Harvey Milk'? Just another liberal nut. He didn't conribute anything good to either America or California and it's simply foolish to honor him. A huge percentage of the California electorate would oppose honoring a homosexual with a special day each year.

What would the California Dems think if the CA GOP tried to have a Jesse Helms or Peter Knight day every year? They would be furious, because it would be controversial. As someone who voted for Governor Schwarzengger, I sure hope he vetoes this trash legislation.

[Sean]

Steve: Who is Harvey Milk? According to Time magazine, he was "the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the planet," and is listed as one of their 100 most important people of the 20th century. He offered hope to people who were- and still are- often demonized simply for being attracted to the "wrong" sex.
Comparing Milk to a racist like Helms or a murderer like Knight is just plain insulting.

[Glyn]

Dear Steve,

I suggest that you read a little history to find out more about the life of Mr Harvey Milk. His life and work were/are deeply significant for a sizeable minority of the population (and not quite a minority as many would like in California)

It`s worthwhile remembering that the person you are criticising was assassinated by a conservative "nut" (to use your parlance)

[Reina]

Children in the public schools have no business celebrating anyone's sexual orientation. Parents don’t send their kids to school to be indoctrinated on someone’s sexual views. The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) movement is trying to elevate Harvey Milk to the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King-- To have a day to celebrate this individual’s accomplishments, which were all based in promoting the homosexual lifestyle and nothing else.

This is nothing but another cheap attempt from the LGBT’s to push their agenda forward, and try to prey on our children. If the LGBT’s want to celebrate their sexual preference, they should all get together and have a party, not try to push this celebration on others, especially children. For someone to deserve a day of celebration in our public schools, they should have to have done something pretty remarkable to earn it. I researched Harvey Milk’s accomplishments and they don’t measure up.

And what is there to celebrate anyways? Studies have shown that Youth who identify themselves as homosexual, lesbian and bisexual are four times more likely than their peers to suffer from major depression; three times more likely to suffer anxiety disorders, four times more likely to suffer conduct disorders, six times more likely to suffer from multiple disorders and more than six times more likely to have attempted suicide. And this is what we want our kids to celebrate!!!???

Moreover, as of 1998, 54 percent of all AIDS cases in America were homosexual men and according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) nearly 90 percent of these men acquired HIV through sexual activity with other men.

In addition to AIDS, there is a long list of maladies attendant upon the homosexually active population. Of particular concern is anal cancer. According to J. R. Daling et.al, "Correlates of Homosexual Behavior and the Incidence of Anal Cancer," Journal of the American Medical Association 247, no.14, 9 April 1982, pp. 1988-90, the risk of anal cancer soars by 4000 percent among those who engage in anal intercourse.

Other maladies include Chlamydia trachomatis, cryptosporidium, giardia lamblia, herpes simplex virus, human papilloma virus (HPV) or genital warts, isospora belli, microsporidia, gonorrhea, viral hepatitis types B & C and syphilis.
Do I need to say more?? www.bestforyourkids.com

[jaguar~]

Dear. Reina well it looks to me as if you really looked into this i can care less what studys have shown im a lgbt student and i and alot of my friends dont fall into those studys we are happyer than you straight people can ever be. and reading things like the things that you people write is just a bunch of stero typical things that if you researched a little harder instead of being locked up in your little narrow minded head would see that. its all a big load of dosh !

[Matthew V]

I find it deeply ironic that someone here objects to "elevating Harvey Milk to the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King..." How soon do children forget that in the 1960's Dr King was much more maligned than Harvey Milk because he was promoting the equal rights of negroes as they were called in those days. A more common slur was used but I dont think I can pass that N-word in this forum. Such is the very basic and fundamental reason to remember a man like Harvey Milk. To commemorate his deeds not his sexual preference; To remember his struggle against an injustice, for which he paid for with his life. To broaden our childrens minds instead of perpetuating the narrow minded views promoted by some here. If our schools are to just teach reading, writing and arithmetic, then lets forget the great men and women that made our country great and seriously risk going back to to the old ways of slavery, misogyny, class distinctions, brutality and witch hunts. Forget not that classic quote: "Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it" Lets leave our bad history in the past and focus on a better future. Let Harvey Milk have his day.

[Jay]

Sexuality has no place in any elementary setting. Schools were not instituted to to replace parents or the family. They are to act as neither the mother or father. It is not their place to teach our students about sex. Such sensitive topics are meant for parents to teach in their homes when appropriate. It is the strengthening of the family that helps society continue to grow . Blurring lines of black and white by painting the world gray does NOT a "better future" make.

[Jay]

Sexuality has no place in any elementary setting. Schools were not instituted to to replace parents or the family. They are to act as neither the mother or father. It is not their place to teach our students about sex. Such sensitive topics are meant for parents to teach in their homes when appropriate. It is the strengthening of the family that helps society continue to grow . Blurring lines of black and white by painting the world gray does NOT a "better future" make.

[lessgovernmentplease.]

The government has no business implementing this kind of legislation. Whether one believes homosexuality is immoral or not, this is to complex of an issue for young elementary students to be forced to acknowledge. This topic should stay primarily on the parent's turf. Sexual preference should stay in sex-ed classes where different opinions can be acknowledged but not forced down students' throats by state endorseed peer pressure.

The Gay-rights movement has gone from the justifiable cause of deterring unlawful discrimination to an attempt to force everyone to fall on one side of a complex moral issue that is ultimately based on an individual's private choice. It is my right to say homosexuality is morally wrong and not be chastised by the state for doing so. It is also my right to say that I think homosexuality is great and feel heterosexuality is silly without worrying about getting fired from my job. It is not my right to unlawfully discriminate against someone who chooses a homosexual or heterosexual lifestyle. The STATE does not have the right to pressure me into thinking homosexuality is right OR wrong. The STATE has the resposnsibility to protect an individual's right to have differing opinions on moral issues.

[JCP in CA]

I'm tired of a state legislature and state educators who feel it's their duty to create armies of liberal graduates. This piece of legislation is not about educating a new generation, it's about sexualizing increasingly younger children and normalizing sexual behaviors under the guise of "sexual identity" which by somehow convincing us that sexual identity is the same as race and religion.

Use my tax dollars to help our kids prosper. Do not use my taxes to trot out whatever side show distraction some lousy legislator or extreme activist concocts!

I'm outraged at the attacks this year on a parents' right to home education -- which was rightly shut down by our Governor.

I'm outraged that 4 San Francisco judges would overturn the popular will of 62% of California voters and rewrite the most basic and fundamental of human family relationships.

It baffles me that California law makers feel it's their place to make schools the primary place where these issues should be resolved, rather than addressing them among the adult population.

It's time to fire the legislature that can't balance a budget but who have time for these kind of distractions.

The heart of my point is that It is the government's role to provide order and infrastructure and the rule of law, not to provide the political agenda for little children to feed from daily when they should be busy being schooled.

[Eric]

I remember being a child, learning about the way government works. "Of the people, for the people, and by the people." It made me feel proud to be an American, where my opinion mattered. Where the voice and heart of the people would be represented by elected officials.

But in my adult years I've become increasingly appalled - and now finally numb - by the complete disconnect between the voice of the people and what actually gets set into legislation.

Who asked me my opinion aregarding the proposed Harvey Milk Day bill? Why was this not put to a vote of the people? I'll tell you why - because it would NEVER have passed. This is just like what happened when 4 liberal judges overturned the voice of the majority (62%) when we told them how we wanted "marriage" to be defined. Apparently "we" don't matter anymore.

So my tax dollars will continue to support the school system, but I don't get a vote regarding whether or not my kids will be taught to honor Harvey Milk. At their age, they will automatically assume that if their teacher says someone was doing a good thing, it must be true. Sure, I can tell them otherwise when they get home. But why should the school system be allowed to compete with me for the morality of my children?

I'm so very tired of the vocal minority getting their way. What ever happened to democracy?

[Susan]

Harvey Milk Day – What a Great Idea!

I can see it now:

“Good Morning, boys and girls, welcome to another day in 1st Grade. We are so excited today because we get to celebrate Harvey Milk Day!”
“Mrs. Jones, who is Harvey Milk?”
“Harvey Milk was (as Time magazine put it) ‘the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the planet.’ Isn’t that wonderful?!?"
“Mrs. Jones, what does ‘gay’ mean?”
“Good question, Tommy. Well, in 10 years or so (sooner if you’re lucky) you will each get to decide to have sex with someone – a boy or a girl. If a boy and a girl want to have sex together, they are called ‘heterosexual.’ If two boys want to have sex, they are ‘gay’ and if two girls want to have sex, they are called ‘lesbian.’ So Harvey Milk was a man who liked having sex with other men and he wanted everyone to think it was a great thing too.”
“Mrs. Jones, what does ‘having sex’ mean?”
“Another great question, Mary! Let me show you some charts. Here is a picture of a man and here is a picture of a woman. Now when a man and a woman have sex, this is how it is done, but with two men, it obviously has to be a bit different…”
Kids ask the craziest questions, don't they?
-or - if I'm on the wrong track, how exactly ARE "public schools and educational institutions to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date?"
Is it just me or is this the most ridiculous thing our state legislature has tried to pull on us behind our backs?
If I pulled my children out of school that day, maybe loss of revenue would give parents some voice on the issue. Hmmm.

[Spike]

If this bill passes. I will take my kids out of school every May 22nd. They will be "out sick" and the school will get no revenue from my kids. Additionally, they will complete no homework assignments, class projects, skits, plays, or assemblies where Harvey Milk Day activities are involved.

This bill has no business in our schools. I am appalled that it has made it this far. I will urge the governor to veto it.

[Appalled]

Okay...now I really believe California is the new Sodom and Gemorrah!
Guess our kids will get a holiday on May 22...a day off from school and more of it's liberal propoganda.

[Susan]

Unfortunately they won't get the day off. Instead they will stay in school and be taught that this man was great because he had sex with men and told people about it. We don't have a Mae West day celebrating a woman who had sex with lots of men. How stupid can they get?

[Bethany]

I'm all for adults celebrating their consensual sex lives as they see fit. However, I think this is going a bit overboard. Do we need yet another day for schools to NOT be teaching our children real lessons. Tolerance should be taught at home, although it's clear that many parents don't teach it that doesn't mean we need to burden our teachers with such nonsense.

[Jennifer]

OK, here's how I see it .

Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights of oppressed people, especially his own people. Because they were not white, they were oppressed. They didn't wake up and say...hmmm, I think I want to be black. It is truly part of who they are and they cannot choose not to be so. Ceasar Chavez fought for the rights of oppressed immigrants who were being mistreated simply because they were from Mexico and had no ability to gain better employment so they were at the mercy of the agricultural bosses. They didn't wake up and say...hmmm, I think I want to be an immigrant worker, they needed food so they worked.

On the other hand, being gay is a choice, whether you lean in one direction or not, you still choose who your going to sleep with. It isn't necessarily ok, and that's the problem. We ask our children to care for the oppressed and to be understanding of people who are different than us, and we teach our children to love everyone, regardless of whether we agree with what those people do or not. But we don't celebrate, especially officially, someone's lifestyle choices, especially if we don't agree with them.

I think hurting people because we don't agree with their choices is very wrong, but I don't want my children to be encouraged to think about those choices in the name of honoring someone who died for making a choice I don't necessarily think he should have made.

[Don]

I keep trying to understand how this is constitutional. It is not acceptable to teach faith as fact in public schools.

The government has mandated that evolution is the only credible scientific theory to be taught in schools. It is not acceptable, to teach science that supports creationism even if diety is never mentioned. Like creationism, homosexuality is at odds with evolution. All species exist to propogate themselves. More complex species reproduce in more complex ways and using two separate sexes to add biodiversity is an extremely advanced way to accomplish this.

Many people who practice homosexuality believe that they are OK, because God made them that way. They are free to believe that, but it is not OK for their religious beliefs to be taught in public schools.

If this passes, on May 22nd I wouldn't have my child sit home, I'd call my lawyer. Science cuts both ways.

[skp]

I am furious about this decision...what the hell is happening to our society where we take the rights of the parents away and now are going to teach my children about an alternative lifestyle that is not appropriate. I can tell you that my children will not attend school that day because we do not support the liberal agenda of the state of CA. I strongly believe that as a parent I have a right to teach my children correct principles and here are some idiots in power who think they can make that decision for me...not a chance! And for the record I contacted the Governors office and told him that I did not want this passed.

[Edward Brown]

I told you so. All democrats voted for this piece of crap legislation. Republicans voted against it. Barack Hussein Obama would have voted for it as well. The upcoming election is shaping up to be good vs evil it seems. God, I hope there are enough conservative democrats left willing to vote for McCain/Palin and we can try to promote values for another four years.
My wife and our two children and I will likely leave CA and take our education and dollars with us back to the midwest it this ridiculous legislation passes. I phoned in today to encourage the governator to vetoe it.

[Gary]

This is an extremely clear example of government officials wasting taxpayer $ on incredibly useless legislation. It seems we have a budget that can't get balanced, a failing school system, a crumbling infrastructure of roads that is insufficient for the population and any number of substantive issues to deal with. Instead time is wasted on things like this. I just hope that the California population starts waking up and kicking these people out of office; they truly don't belong there. I have read enough to know that Harvey Milk is not the character I would want my children growing up to emulate. Anyone mother or father with half a brain would see that. Unfortunately the highly vocal homosexual minority seems to feel the need to exploit young impressionable children. The democrats in this state and the homosexual lobbyists have truly lost touch with any ideals that I and many others hold dear. I only pray that people will vote in November to kick these legislators out of office.

[geoff]

Just to let everyone know how a school works, They will most likely spend the week before doing a bunch of arts and craft things in preparation for "Harvey Milk Day". Sounds like a week vacation would be an excellent idea starting on Mother's day and ending on the 23rd.

[Susan]

I was just informed that Gov. Schwarzchnegger vetoed "Harvey Milk Day" on 9/30/08. Hurray! Thank you, thank you, thank you, governor!

[JCP in CA]

The Governor is not the best conservative around, but he did the right thing shutting down this useless and dangerous bill.

Our schools struggle and our state legislature still wants to create more extra-curricular, non-essential and morally wrong activities to do during school hours.

[Robert]

Why oh why do homophobes constantly obsess about homosexuals sex lives? The fetishization of homosexual sex by you scary, scary hatemongers as something that teachers will discuss with students is just plain out of another century. And Reina, whoever you are, citing the high percentage of gay teens who suffer from depression, why do you think they are depressed? BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU! I'm so very sorry to tell you this, but just about 100% of gay kids are borne from heterosexual parents (DUH!), and if your child was born gay there isn't anything you, a teacher, a national holiday, or a governor can do to change them, BEING GAY IS NOT A CHOICE you bloody narrow minded neanderthals. Seriously, is there anyone out there who still thinks California is full of liberals? It isn't, it's full of uneducated hatemongers who want to deny people rights at every turn. You are all much, much scarier than a dead politician (killed with a gun by a man who espoused hate not unlike what is all over this board right now.) Love one Another, people. Be tolerant.

[Paula]

This isn't about sexuality. It's about civil rights! Shouldn't children learn diversity and acceptance of others? You don't LEARN to be gay ... you either are gay or you are not. Gay pride parades and cross dressing in schools .... I think not.! What scare tactics to promote your beliefs! God help the gay children who will be judged because they are "different". And God love Harvey Milk for the wonderful man he was, and his contributions to the civil rights of gays and lesbians everywhere! Signed: Proud Mother of a Gay Son (a son who does not judge others for being "different").