Sean Penn, fresh from his Academy Award win as best actor in "Milk," will headline today with state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, activist Cleve Jones and friends and family of the late San Francisco supervisor to push for Harvey Milk Day in California.
The 11 a.m. event at the Tosca Cafe - starring Penn, who also has been a Chronicle foreign correspondent - is aimed to lobby for Senate Bill 572 , a measure that closely mirrors one vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last year.
The bill designates May 22 as "a day of special significance in California," in which public schools would be encouraged "to conduct suitable commemorative exercises on Harvey Milk's life and his contributions to the state," according to the news release.
But with the huge hole in the state budget and increased calls to cut back current paid state holidays, supporters also note that the legislation doesn't call for state workers or school employees to get a day off work.
Milk, of course, was one of the nation's first openly gay elected officials, and his acclaimed biopic - starring Penn - brought his story to millions around the country.
He and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Supervisor Dan White on Nov. 27, 1978.
Still, look for conservative Republicans, who are lining up to run for office, and evangelical grassroots activists to resist this one - big time.
How right on would this be?? If there is a petition I would gladly sign it.
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