Harvey Milk Day is organized by theHarvey Milk Foundation and celebrated each year on May 22, especially inCalifornia, in memory ofHarvey Milk, agay rights activist whowas assassinated in 1978. Milk was a prominent gay activist during the 20th century. He ran for office three times before becoming the first openly gay person elected to California public office, where he served as aSan Francisco city supervisor.[1] 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.[2]
In California, Harvey Milk Day is recognized by the state's government as a day of special significance for public schools.[3][4] The day was established by the California legislature and signed into law by GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger in 2009. Having vetoed the legislation in 2008, Gov. Schwarzenegger was persuaded to reverse his position after a series of petitions led by gay rights activist Daren I. Ball,[5] PresidentBarack Obama's decision to award Milk thePresidential Medal of Freedom, and the release of the award-winning feature filmMilk retracing Milk's life.[6][7][8]
