Harvey Milk Day is organized by the Harvey Milk Foundation and celebrated each year on May 22, especially in California, in memory of Harvey Milk, a gay rights activist who was assassinated in 1978. Milk was a prominent gay activist during the 20th century. He ran for office three times before becoming the first openly gay person elected to California public office, where he served as a San Francisco city supervisor.[1] Harvey Milk Day came about as a day to remember and teach about Milk's life and his work to stop discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.[2]
In California, Harvey Milk Day is recognized by the state's government as a day of special significance for public schools.[3][4] The day was established by the California legislature and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009. Having vetoed the legislation in 2008, Gov. Schwarzenegger was persuaded to reverse his position after a series of petitions led by gay rights activist Daren I. Ball,[5] President Barack Obama's decision to award Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the release of the award-winning feature film Milk retracing Milk's life.[6][7][8]
(federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies
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