Forwarded email urges California residents to call the governor and voice their objections to AB 2567, a legislative bill designating May 22 as Harvey Milk Day to commemorate the San Francisco city supervisor slain in 1978.
Description: Email flier
Circulating since: Sep. 2008
Status: True
Email example contributed by NGJ, Sep. 19, 2008:
Subject: : AB 2567
I just called, this is true! (The Number to call is: 1 916-445-2841) It took 4 "redial" calls to get through. Then key in 1, then 2, then 1, then 2 for a NO vote.
Please take a moment to voice your NO vote! Just one more reason to move from wacky CA. I have nothing against gays and believe they shouldn't be discriminated against but to have a gay day in elementary schools is going too far.
Dear Friends: This is an issue that is pretty much going under the radar, and I think we all need to make this telephone call.
This is real. It took less than 30 seconds. It is just a recording and pressing 2 to say NO. Please read it!!!
AB 2567 has passed the California Assembly and the Senate and is awaiting Governor Schwarzenegger' s signature or veto. This bill will set aside May 22nd as a special day to celebrate the life of homosexual politician Harvey Milk in the public schools. Harvey Milk will be honored in the same manner as our Founding Fathers and Martin Luther King, although the only thing he is actually known for is being proud be be a homosexual! If you haven't heard about this bill it is because the liberal media is downplaying this bill so that it will pass.
PLEASE CALL GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER AND MAKE YOU VOICE HEARD.
The Number to call is: 1 916-445-2841
Please forward this to as many people as possible.
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Comments: True. California Assembly Bill 2567 (full text) calls for the governor to proclaim May 22 "Harvey Milk Day" in honor of the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in a major U.S. city, Harvey Milk.
Introduced by state assemblyman Mark Leno in February 2008, AB 2567 was passed by the legislature in August and sent to the governor's office for signing in mid-September. As of this writing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has neither authorized nor vetoed the bill, nor made any public statements for or against it.
Contrary to the impression given in the message above, AB 2567 would not create an official holiday comparable to Martin Luther King Day or Presidents Day. Rather, to quote the bill's first paragraph, it would designate May 22 as having "special significance in public schools and educational institutions and would encourage those entities to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on that date." (See excerpt below for more details.)
Note, too, that the new law would encourage public schools to recognize Harvey Milk Day, not require it.
Lastly, the phone number provided above is correct. To contact Governor Arnold Shwarzenegger and voice your opinion on AB 2567, dial 1-916-445-2841.
Excerpt from AB 2567:
37222. (a) The following days in each year are designated and set apart as days having special significance:(1) The second Wednesday in May as the Day of the Teacher.
(2) April 21 of each year as John Muir Day.
(3) April 6 of each year as California Poppy Day.
(4) May 22 of each year as Harvey Milk Day.(b) On each of the days designated in subdivision (a), all public schools and educational institutions are encouraged to observe those days and to conduct suitable commemorative exercises as follows:
(1) On the Day of the Teacher, exercises commemorating and directing attention to teachers and the teaching profession.
(2) On John Muir Day, exercises stressing the importance that an ecologically sound natural environment plays in the quality of life for all of us, and emphasizing John Muir's significant contributions to the fostering of that awareness and the indelible mark he left on the State of California.
(3) On California Poppy Day, exercises honoring the California Poppy, including instruction about native plants, particularly the California Poppy, and the economic and aesthetic value of wildflowers; promoting responsible behavior toward our natural resources and a spirit of protection toward them; and emphasizing the value of natural resources and conservation of natural resources.
(4) On Harvey Milk Day, exercises remembering the life of Harvey Milk and recognizing his accomplishments as well as the contributions he made to this state.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that the exercises encouraged in this section be integrated into the regular school program, and be conducted by the school or institution within the amount otherwise budgeted for educational programs.
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Sources and further reading:
Bill Would Declare an Annual Harvey Milk Day in California
Sacramento Bee, 27 July 2008Day to Honor Harvey Milk Passes State Senate
CBS5.com News, 5 August 2008Harvey Milk Bio
Time, 14 June 1999The Harvey Milk Assassination
About.com: Gay Life
Last updated: 08/20/08
