Governator Vetoes Harvey Milk Day

Bowing to the ferocious pressure of Christianists, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed the bill designating Harvey Milk Day as a statewide holiday in California.

In his veto message issued Tuesday, the governor said that while he respected the measure's intent, he thinks Milk's "contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level." Conservative groups had lobbied Schwarzenegger not to sign the legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Mark Leno of San Francisco. Milk became the nation's first openly gay man to hold a prominent political office when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by a fellow supervisor in 1978

The holiday would not have been a paid day off for state employees and schools and other government functions would have been unaffected. It would have merely been a symbolic day to recognize a man whose life has great historical value to the LGBT community. But the Christers wouldn't have it.