Harvey Milk Day Has Group Worried About 'Indoctrinating' Kids

Harvey Milk's memory is being honored by the White House today while also being run away from by an antigay group.

Lucas Grindley

Lucas Grindley is VP and Editorial Director for Here Media, which is parent company to The Advocate. His Twitter account is filled with politics, Philip Glass appreciation, and adorable photos of his twin toddler daughters.

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Lucas Grindley

May 22 2013 4:18 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Some parents with kids in schools that will honor "Harvey Milk Day" are keeping them home from school today.

Today, May 22, is Milk's birthday, and it's been a moment to remember the slain civil rights leader's contribution. The White House, for example, is honoring 10 LGBT people today a Harvey Milk "Champions of Change." And the city of Long Beach dedicated a park in his memory. But San Diego's ABC affiliate reports that an ad campaign is calling on parents to keep their kids home from school for fear of learning about LGBT equality.

"They'll be taught an agenda that attacks our family values," the ad states, according to the report.

A leader with the group that bought the ads, called SaveCalifornia.com, claims that Harvey Milk Day is a way of "sexually indoctrinating children."

Milk was honored in 2009 by President Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And the White House announced it would honor Milk further by dedicating this year's Champions of Change awards to his work.

Watch a video report about the California ads below.