Harvey Milk to be inducted into California Hall of Fame
In an ironic twist, iconic gay-politician Harvey Milk will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame alongside Hiram Johnson--the former governor whose reforms of the state Constitution at the start of the 20th century introduced the popular vote amendment power that enabled Proposition 8’s passage that galvanizes the same constituency today.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has previously vetoed efforts to honor Milk with an official holiday and indicated that he will do so again with similar legislation currently pending, and his wife Maria Shriver announced today a list of 13 people who will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame at a Sacramento ceremony on Dec. 1. The inductees will be honored with a special ceremony and reception and be presented with Spirit of California medals.
"Today’s announcement by First Lady Maria Shriver recognizes the important leadership role Harvey Milk played in our state and nation and further illustrates the historic and international nature of his legacy," state Sen. Mark Leno, whose bill to create Harvey Milk Day is currently on the Assembly floor, said. "I appreciate the First Lady’s support and admiration for Harvey’s work to further equal civil rights for all people. He gave his life for what he believed in, and in doing so gave hope to generations of LGBT Californians who continue to struggle for full equality."
President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a ceremony earlier this month.
"This honor, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Harvey by President Obama, should only underscore to the governor the need for Harvey Milk Day in California, and I hope he will return our bill with his signature when it reaches his desk in the next few weeks."
Shriver initiated the hall in 2006 to honor Californians who have made major contributions in arts, education, business and labor, science, sports, philanthropy and public service. Thirty-eight people were inducted in the first three years of the program. These include John Muir, Cesar Chavez, Walt Disney, Ronald Reagan, Billie Jean King, Willie Mays, Anzel Adams, Tiger Woods, Jackie Robinson and Dr. Seuss.
"Now more than ever, I see how the perseverance and passion of one person can have a lasting impact in the lives of people, not only in their community but across the world," Shriver said. "When talent and a relentless drive are matched, the efforts of a single individual can create a legacy of change, hope and empowerment. Every individual inducted into the California Hall of Fame symbolize the biggest hearts, the greatest drive and the deepest inspiration. It’s an honor to induct these extraordinary individuals who have each made their own unique mark in history."
In addition to Milk and Johnson, this year’s inductees include actress Carol Burnett, microchip pioneer Andrew Grove, Olympian Rafer Johnson, industrialist Henry Kaiser, former San Diego Padres owner Joan Kroc, filmmaker George Lucas, sports announcer and former coach John Madden, artist Fritz Scholder, author Danielle Steele, bodybuilding promoter Joe Weider and pilot Gen. Chuck Yeager.
Leno’s bill would denote Harvey Milk Day as a "day of special significance," which is not a mandatory paid holiday.
"This month I had the privilege to meet and talk with President Obama who bestowed the nation’s highest honor upon my uncle for his enduring message of hope-hope unashamed, hope unafraid-as the President stated in his public comments," Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk, said. "I am hopeful that Governor Schwarzenegger will also take the time to meet with me along with others whose lives are touched by Harvey Milk."
He further described his uncle’s impact.
"Although the California Secretary of Education doesn’t yet understand my uncle’s global impact, I do believe the governor can see the president’s perspective when the president said, "Harvey Milk was here to recruit us-all of us-to join a movement and change a nation,"" he said.
Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, praised the announcement.
"Harvey Milk is truly deserving of this honor," he said. "His tremendous legacy is still felt today worldwide. We urge Gov. Schwarzenegger to take the next step in recognizing Harvey Milk’s courageous work championing equal protections for all, just as President Obama has, and to sign the Harvey Milk bill into law as a tribute to his invaluable contributions to our state and nation."
