CA Assembly Approves Harvey Milk Day

By a vote of 45-27, the California Assembly has approved a bill creating a statewide holiday to honor gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk. The bill passed in the state Senate earlier this year. The question now is whether the Governator will veto the bill as he did last year.

"Although he vetoed a similar bill last year with the message that Harvey Milk should be recognized only at the local level, I am confident Governor Schwarzenegger now understands the historic and international nature of Harvey's legacy," said Senator Mark Leno [the bill's sponsor]. "Last week the Governor contradicted his 2008 veto message when he and the First Lady announced that Harvey will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, acknowledging that Harvey and the other inductees touched the 'lives of millions of people -- not just in this state, but around the world.'"

The bill must now return to the state Senate for a routine concurrence vote before reaching Schwarzenegger's desk.