Yay :)

Calif. prepares to honor Harvey Milk: State marks 'day of significance' for slain gay-rights leader

California will observe its first day of "special significance" Saturday honoring the slain gay-rights leader on what would have been his 80th birthday.

It took two legislative tries and the 2008 movie "Milk" to help persuade Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a bill last fall establishing May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. Memorial events are planned in 20 other states.

For those of you who don't know...

Milk was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 when he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall by former supervisor Dan White.

Milk preached a message of pride that made him an inspiration to generations of gay rights activists, and he is credited with helping defeat a ballot initiative that would have prevented gay teachers from working in public schools.

This is the first state recognition day for an openly gay person. Let's celebrate.