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10/01/2008
Arnold skims Milk
In an almost unbelievably shortsighted stroke of the pen, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has honored the wishes of the gay community's most fringe foes by vetoing the bill that would have set aside a special day of significance honoring slain civil rights pioneer Harvey Milk. Schwarzenegger cited a belief that Milk's contributions should only be recognized at the local level (in San Francisco, where he served) rather than the statewide one:
California governor vetoes Harvey Milk bill [AP via Google]
That a way, Arnold -- keep gay heroes' lives confined to the districts that those lives have already changed for the better. Wouldn't want that "San Francisco value" known as respect to tarnish future generations. ::sigh::
**SEE ALSO: Because Harvey's life apparently merits a major motion picture but not statewide significance, here's the trailer for the upcoming Milk film. :
Your thoughts
Apparently this bill was passed only by the San Francisco Legislature, not the California Legislature.
Posted by: badboris | Oct 1, 2008 11:12:42 AM
I am glad I never voted for Arnold, and I am a Republican.
I felt Arnold was a political opportunist, who lacks conviction with his views. Arnold basically does not want to take any risks.
Posted by: Matt from California | Oct 1, 2008 11:43:20 AM
I hope we aren't thinking that this is an anti-gay position. Because that's not very likely. What, Arnold supports gay marriage but not gay heros?
More likely, Arnold doesn't see the need to add yet another holiday / remembrance day to the State's overburdened list. And the truth is that I might have done the same.
Here in California we've run out of pro-gay issues to legislate. Really. If we win Prop 8's defeat gay activism is pretty much keeping the status quo.
However some legislators feel that they need to demonstrate their support for the community so we're down to legislating commemorative days.
It is a good thing, on the one hand. But it is also kinda silly. We end up saying "You're homophobic. You support equality for gay people but didn't approve my commemorative day".
Posted by: Timothy | Oct 1, 2008 12:39:17 PM
Timothy: No, no. Please don't take my words as ssying "ARNOLD IS HOMOPHOBIC!" Nothing could be further from the truth. I just think it is a worthwhile observance, and his reasoning for the veto is VERY short-sighted.
That being said, I've actually heard some interesting theories about this. Some think it was actually a pro-gay action, meant to help Prop. 8.
Posted by: G-A-Y | Oct 2, 2008 1:17:10 PM
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