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08/25/2009
CA: Arnold takes his inductees with Milk
First he got a Presidential medal of Freedom. Now Harvey Milk is receiving a posthumous honor from his home state:
SACRAMENTO, CA - The 2009 California Hall of Fame Inductees were announced Tuesday morning. They include a hilarious actress, bodybuilding pioneer, gay rights advocate, and Star Wars creator.
The 2009 California Hall of Fame inductees are: Entertainer Carol Burnett, Former Intel CEO Andrew Grove, Governor and U.S. senator Hiram Johnson, Decathlete and philanthropist Rafer Johnson, Industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, Philanthropist and peace activist Joan Kroc, Filmmaker George Lucas, Football commentator John Madden, Gay rights advocate Harvey Milk, Artist Fritz Scholder, Author Danielle Steel, Fitness and bodybuilding pioneer Joe Weider, Air Force test pilot General Chuck Yeager
2009 California Hall of Fame Inductees Announced [News 10]
(H/t: Mombian)
Now, this is kind of a big deal, because Gov. Schwarzenegger will soon have to decide if he will again veto a bill that honors the slain gay rights icon with an annual day of significance. Could he possibly put Harvey up for this local honor, yet turn around and deny the other recognition? Well yea, of course he could. But this is undoubtly more an indicator that the governor has grown in Harvey awareness over the past year, and that this year's action on the bill will more involve a Sean Penn than a veto pen.
*Petition the governor to do the right thing on this 'Harvey Milk Day' legislation.
Your thoughts
I dunno.
I would totally honor Harvey Milk with this recognition in the California Hall of Fame.
But, as with Joe Weider and Danielle Steele, I wouldn't have an official school day be dedicated to recognizing Milk. He's an interesting story and worth including in state history curriculum but not worthy of being revered.
I can see why some would appreciate the symbolism of having a gay guy so honored. And Milk was instrumental in the gay rights movement.
But I'm not so big on symbolism and I think Milk is too SF local and too flawed and too much a politician to be honored in that way. We see him as a martyr... but he wasn't really killed for being gay; he was killed for being politically calculating.
Posted by: Timothy Kincaid | Aug 25, 2009 2:56:05 PM
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