Matt Ortega

Milk's birthday, May 22, will be honored across the state of California.

Slain gay rights activist and former San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk was honored by the California legislature by making his birthday, May 22, "Harvey Milk Day" and the governor signed the bill. Milk, the first openly-gay elected official in the United States, is also the only such person to be bestowed such an honor in this country.

While the governor vetoed the bill honoring Milk last year, President Obama's awarding Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom and an Academy Award-winning film about Milk's life moved Schwarzenegger to sign the bill, spokesman Aaron McLear said.

"The bill is symbolic of the importance of the gay community to California, which is why he signed it," McLear said, adding that Schwarzenegger wanted to "honor that community." It is the only such day of recognition for a gay or lesbian person in the United States. [...]

The measure mandates that the governor proclaim each May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in the state, to coincide with Milk's birthday. It will not be a state holiday. The bill signed by Schwarzenegger encourages public schools in the state to conduct lessons "remembering the life of Harvey Milk, recognizing his accomplishments and familiarizing pupils with the contributions he made to this state."

Milk was murdered, as was San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, by a conservative former supervisor, Dan White, in November 1978.