Close to a week ago, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law that May 22 will now be a day of special recognition for assassinated gay politician Harvey Milk. Though the 22nd of May will not be an official state holiday, schools across California will be encouraged and hopefully inspired to hold lessons "remembering the life of Harvey Milk, recognizing his accomplishments and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to this state". For Schwarzenegger, signing this bill is a far cry from the previous year where he shot down the measure when it was presented; with the release of the film Milk based on his life (which won two Academy Awards) starring Sean Penn, and President Obama recently awarding Harvey Milk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Governor seemed more than compelled to begin moving in a more progressive direction.
Whether it showed a lack of integrity on his side for vetoing the measure from the start, I applaud Governor Schwarzenegger for reversing his decision, even if it took a feature film and President Obama to ultimately influence him. New laws were also signed along with the measure worth taking note of, such as ones that will give same-sex couples legally married in other states all the rights of marriage in California. Try not to catch yourself going into shock on this one, but Arnie has ".. approved more legislation in favour of gay rights than any governor in United States history". With opposition being met at every direction for those striving for the rights of homosexuals in America, this is a glimmering light in what hopefully may be a bright day in the future for the LGBT community.
Times they are a-changin'? Perhaps they are, but only time will tell.
As soon as the law was signed the Conservative groups who were in full force during their campaign to successfully end same-sex marriage in California made their aversion known. The Campaign for Children and Families called the Harvey Milk law "the strongest impetus yet for loving parents to remove their children from anti-family public schools". A little irrational? Yes, however this statement and others like it, as ridiculous as they may sound, gain strength when enough people back them. It contributes to a negative connotation that can portray gays in an antagonistic light, where groups have a window to build an anti-homosexual following through fear and confusion. Let it be a reminder to all that though the one-year anniversary of the Proposition 8 victory against the gay community nears, small and steady triumphs will help complete the bigger integral picture of equality; key moments as this serve as motivation to keep moving forward and continue our enduring stride.
The signing of the Harvey Milk law deserves special recognition and is important in the progression of California and the United States in attaining a society free of homosexual intolerance. For this, I am thankful and hopeful for the future.
