Yesterday, with Academy Award-winner Sean Penn on hand to provide Hollywood star power, CA state Sen. Mark Leno announced a new effort to recognize May 22 in California as Harvey Milk Day.
The announcement at Tosca Cafe attracted many leaders of the city’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, including Leno, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, city Supervisors Bevan Dufty and David Campos and city Treasurer Jose Cisneros.
Although a similar bill was vetoed by Schwarzenegger last year, Leno said that Penn’s powerful portrayal of Milk gives his new bill an immediacy it didn’t have last year. Penn said his research for the role convinced him that Milk’s call for political activism and volunteerism is a message that’s important to get into California schools. “It’s not just important but essential with such a heroic and seminal figure as Harvey Milk that we honor him in this way,” the actor said.
A spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger said the governor has not taken a position on the bill. “If there’s one thing Arnold Schwarzenegger understands, it’s box office,” Leno said. “And Harvey Milk now has box office.” [SFGate]
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