October 2, 2009

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

I support the signing of Sen. Mark Leno’s bill SB 572 that will designate the day of May 22nd of each year to be known as “Harvey Milk Day.”  Last year when this bill came before you, your given reason to veto was that Harvey Milk “was only important in San Francisco.”  I disagree with your statement and believe that I can prove that it is not true.

As our first openly-gay elected politician in the state, elected at a moment when intolerance was surging politically, even threatening our state ballot with anti-gay proposals that then-Gov. Reagan opposed, Mr. Milk set a standard for ethics and courage that is sorely lacking in our nation’s politics today.

Milk’s trailblazing even made it possible for me to run for office.  As an openly gay man, I would have never found the courage to run without Harvey Milk’s example.  I would not have become an elected official in Studio City and I certainly wouldn’t have run for LA City Council this past summer in Council District #2.

I have a reliable barometer of how far we’ve come in our state since Mr. Milk’s assassination.

Throughout the CD-2 campaign I couldn’t help but notice that during the long series of debates and town hall meetings for the candidates, no one ever brought up the fact that I was gay.  That’s the point, Mr. Governor!

We have finally achieved a point in our history where the electorate, in many places in California, looks for leadership first, and minority status later, if at all.  That was unthinkable back in the 70’s.

There is the proof you need of Harvey Milk’s influence over our entire state…not just in San Francisco.  Harvey Milk is important in Los Angeles and all over our state!

I propose that Harvey Milk Day should be not just a state holiday, for that’s the least we can do.  Harvey Milk Day should be a world holiday, for in fact, this pioneering politician did indeed, influence politics all over the world, providing a role model for gays in politics everywhere, and showing us the way forward, just like the visionary he was known to be.

That’s the reason you must give, when asked, and why you must sign SB 572 into law.  Please sign before October 12th, 2009.  It’s high time for this holiday to be celebrated!

In your service,

Michael McCue
Board Member – Studio City Neighborhood Council
Chair – Environmental Affairs Committee
Green Party Candidate for Council District #2
City of Los Angeles, CA