nPostednon May 22, 2016
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n Inn2009, Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a billncreating a state day of recognition for Harvey Milk, a politician whonwas the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in anmajor city.
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nHarveynMilk, who was born on this date in 1930, became a city supervisor ofnSan Francisco in 1977. He was responsible for passing a gay rightsnlaw in the city. That’s the main reason that he is a hero…
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nButnunfortunately, there is another reason we remember Milk so well herenin California: he became a martyr.
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nAnotherncity supervisor, a fellow named Dan White, resigned his seat becausenhe thought the pay was too low. A few days later, he asked that hisnresignation be withdrawn, but the mayor of San Francisco, GeorgenMoscone, was instead prepared to name a new supervisor who wouldnreflect the diversity of the city and the more progressive ideas ofnthe rest of the board. White had spent most of his time clashing withnMilk, especially, and other board members on various issues.
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nOnnNovember 27, 1978, Dan White deliberately shot Mayor Moscone severalntimes, causing the mayor to fall to the floor; White shot him in thenhead twice more. Then he reloaded his gun and went in search of Milk;nhe shot Milk five times, including twice in the head at close range.
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nIfnyou can believe it, White wasn’t convicted of murder, even though henadmitted that he was guilty of assassinating two governmentnofficials! Instead, he was convicted of only manslaughter, and he wasnonly sentenced to seven years in prison, of which he only served two.n(White committed suicide not long after he was released from prison.)
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nBacknto Milk: even though he was only a city supervisor less than 11nmonths before he was assassinated, he is still seen as an icon in SannFrancisco, a visionary for LGBT rights, and a martyr in the gayncommunity.
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nInn2009 President Obama awarded Harvey Milk the Presidential Medal ofnFreedom for his contribution to the gay rights movement. Milk’snnephew Stuart accepted for his uncle and later founded the HarveynMilk Foundation. Governor Schwarzenegger, in addition to declaringntoday Harvey Milk Day, inducted Milk in the California Hall of Fame.
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- Herenare some materialsnfor kids to learn about Harvey Milk and issues relating to gaynrights.
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- Kari Krakow wrote a biography of Milk for kids.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Botanical artist Margarert Mee’s birthday
Botanical artist Margarert Mee’s birthday n
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nUnitynDay in Yemen
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nComposernRichard Wagner’s birthday
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nInternationalnDay for Biological Diversity
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nArtistnMary Cassatt’s birthday
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nNationalnMaritime Day
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nPlannahead:
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Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nMayn holidays
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nMayn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in May
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJunen holidays
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nJunen birthdays
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n Historicaln anniversaries in June
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