Governor Schwarzenegger Vetoes Harvey Milk Bill

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have honored Harvey Milk's birthday as a statewide "day of significance," reports the Associated Press. In a statement on Tuesday, Schwarzenegger defended his decision by saying that the icon's "contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level."

The bill, which was sponsored by San Francisco assemblyman Mark Leno, was contested by conservative groups, who appealed to the governor to veto the legislation.

Milk was one of the first openly gay men to hold a prominent political office in the United States when he was elected to the San Francisco board of supervisors in 1977. Milk, a film about the politician's life, directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Penn, is set for release this December. (The Advocate)

Keywords: Harvey Milk

Related stories from Advocate.com

2009-03-13: Milk Nephew to Rally for Gay Rights in Fla.
2009-02-25: Sean Penn Takes Home Best Actor for Milk
2009-02-24: Milk Scribe Dustin Lance Black Wins Oscar
2009-02-17: Party Before the Storm
2009-02-14: Event ‘Milk Skimmed’ to Explore What the Film Was Missing

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Art M.
Date posted: 2008-10-02 5:56 PM
Hometown: SFCAUSA

Comment:

Robert H - you support people and vote for people who attack YOU based on your sexuality. We INTELLIGENT people call you stupid for doing that. It is NOT in your best interest to vote for someone who has PROMISED to take every step in their power to take away YOUR civil rights. Maybe you don't understand how politics within the Republican Party works, that they have to promise to adhere to the Party Platform, which includes anti-gay planks. Please note that I'm not knocking you for being gay - I'm knocking you for being a REPUBLICAN. I'd do that whether you were gay or not, so calling me a homophobe just shows how you are lacking in the ability to understand LOGIC and REASON (which goes hand in hand in being a Republiturd MORON).

Name: Joseph
Date posted: 2008-10-02 4:19 PM
Hometown: Montgomery, AL

Comment:

Some folks seem to forget that Ah-nuld was the one most responsible for the whole same-sex marriage issue going to the ballot in the first place. The State Legislature had actually passed a bill that would allow same-sex marriage, but Ah-nuld vetoed that bill, saying "the people should decide". Thus, we have the Prop 8 measure going to the people. Now, we also have some gays slamming OTHER gays for Ah-nuld's refusal to sign the Milk bill yet there was nothing suggesting that GAYS were responsible in any form or fashion. The article blamed CONSERVATIVES. Nothing was in the article about the Log Cabin Republicans but it's obvious that some gays can't read what's put before them. (That explains why so many support Obama despite HIS inviting McClurkin on that little religion tour of South Carolina AND despite HIS religious-based opposition to same-sex marriage AND despite HIS wanting to expand Dubya's faith-based initiative.)

Name: Merle
Date posted: 2008-10-02 8:26 AM
Hometown: Birmingham

Comment:

Actually it is based on the ideology which makes one an "Uncle Tom". Of course you decide what is your best interest. Clearly you have no relationship or job to protect - unless, of course, your relationship and job come SECOND to your political ideology. I have a partner of 25 years. That relationship comes first - political ideology should come second to family. Ever known anyone beaten to death because they were gay? Over the years, I have kown four people beaten to death because they were gay. Of the killers apprehended, NONE were given the death penalty. Again, my ideology is less important than the lives of those individuals. So you see, I have a vested interest in the furtherance of civil rights for gays and lesbians. Wonder which president would sign hate crimes legislation, support job protection, support civil unions and marriage equality? Now, I wonder which one would refer to those things as "special rights"? I guess its about priorities.

Name: Robert H
Date posted: 2008-10-02 7:15 AM
Hometown: Worcester MA

Comment:

Thank you for proving my point Merle. 'Republicans are all vile - gay ones considerably more so because they undermine their own best interest and that of others.' Correct me if i'm wrong but this seems like an attack on my sexuality. Because I choose not to vote the way you apparently do I'm an Uncle Tom, vile and more so because i'm gay. Dearest Merle my best interest is what I say it is. I'll vote the way I choose to and I'm big enough to allow you to do the same. See how I did that Merle I managed to make a point without making a blanket statement calling all progressive gay people traders to their sexuality. IT CAN BE DONE!

Name: Merle
Date posted: 2008-10-02 12:06 AM
Hometown: Birmingham

Comment:

"To Merle / Art: A Governor of a state vetoes a bill and you can't wait to call gay people uncle toms. I have a question. if someone only hates gays that vote Republican is that homophobia too, or is that just an example of being progressive? " Its called politics, dear. Republicans are all vile - gay ones considerably more so because they undermine their own best interest and that of others. Since the disgust is not based on their sexuality, it is not "homophobia". Since I do not make any claim of being a "progressive", or a liberal I cannot answer the latter part of your question. I can, will total confidence, tell you that "progressives" and liberals are not incapable of being agressive, partisan, dogmatic, and every bit as strong an advocate of their position as any "conservative".

If you would like to submit a comment for posting, please fill out the form above.

All comments submitted via this form are subject to posting or publication. (To send a private letter to an Advocate editor or writer, please use the e-mail button at the top of the page, or use snail mail.) If you would like your comment considered for publication in The Advocate magazine, please include your full name, your city of residence, and a phone number where you can be reached during business hours so that we can confirm your identity. Your e-mail address and telephone number are strictly confidential and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to contact you about your comment.

See the Contact page for sending comments for reasons other than responding to Advocate editorial and news stories.

Please note that comments sent by fax or snail mail are unlikely to be posted, although they will be considered for publication along with all letters received via e-mail or via this Web page. Comments that chiefly concern Advocate.com content will be considered for posting only on the Web site. The Advocate reserves the right to edit submitted comments for grammar, spelling, obscenities, or libel; we will, however, do our best to preserve the original comment's style and intent. Comments considered for publication in The Advocate magazine may also be edited for length.

More Exclusives

View From the Hill: The End of DADT?
Defense Secretary Robert Gates revealed that lawyers are exploring ways to ease enforcement of the military's gay ban, but cautioned that the law doesn't leave much wiggle room. He need look no further than DOD history for a lesson in altering the policy.

Hot Sheet: Week of July 5
When you get back from that big 4th of July barbecue, unwind with Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno and your favorite B-movie-mocking, basic cable robots.

Hungry Like the Wolf
A master of viola, ukulele, piano, and harp, Patrick Wolf is a music prodigy -- one who, the night before this interview, spit on a cop and got himself arrested.

Soapside: Advocate's Guide to Daytime
Forbes March talks about playing gay, Otalia fans outraged, update on One Life to Live’s Patricia Maurceri’s firing over gay plot point, Phillip Chancellor III big reveal, and Erica Kane goes to Africa.

The Faces of Federal Prop. 8
With the federal challenge to Prop. 8 moving full speed ahead, Advocate.com sits down with the two couples named as plaintiffs in the suit.

Mommy, the Gays Are Coming
After a year of advancements and celebration for gay and lesbian Colombians, the community takes to the streets of Bogota for the country's biggest pride ever.

The Pride of Antwerp
Advocate.com hits the gay-friendly streets of Antwerp with openly gay police commissioner Serge Muyters.

Excerpt: Mean Little Deaf Queer
In an excerpt from her humorous and harrowing new memoir, Mean Little Deaf Queer, Terry Galloway recalls her early childhood, describing feelings of ugliness, confusion about gender, and being one of the boys.

Top Political Blogs
From Joe.My.God to The Daily Beast, Advocate.com spotlights a few of the best blogs that cover politics, inside and way outside the Beltway.

The Diva of French Television
A hot young screenwriter who has made gay OK for millions of French viewers, Nicolas Mercier sips champagne, dons a feathered hat, and says he wants to see Colin Farrell and Jude Law go at it.