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Saturday, May 22, 2010

California, other states prepare to honor Milk - Boston.com

California, other states prepare to honor Milk - Boston.com

California, other states prepare to honor Milk

By Lisa Leff
Associated Press Writer / May 21, 2010
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SAN FRANCISCO—Presidential Medal of Freedom? Got that. A place in the California Hall of Fame and Sean Penn playing you on-screen? Those, too.
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Now, Harvey Milk has a holiday of sorts to call his own. California will observe its first day of "special significance" Saturday honoring the slain gay rights leader on what would have been his 80th birthday.
It took two legislative tries and the 2008 movie "Milk" to help persuade Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign a bill last fall establishing May 22 as Harvey Milk Day. Memorial events are planned in 20 other states.
The California measure does not close state offices as an official holiday would but does encourages public schools to conduct activities commemorating the first openly gay man elected to public office in a major U.S. city.
Milk was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1978 when he and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall by former supervisor Dan White.
Milk preached a message of pride that made him an inspiration to generations of gay rights activists, and he is credited with helping defeat a ballot initiative that

Texas schools dilute history curriculum

The Texas State Board of Education adopted a social studies and history curriculum yesterday that amends or waters down the teaching of the civil rights movement, slavery, America’s relationship with the UN, and hundreds of other items.

Mich. schools not expected to see cuts in 2010-11

Michigan school districts are safe from further cuts this school year and likely will escape budget cuts next year as well, state economists said Friday