Schwarzenegger Signs "Harvey Milk Day" Into Law

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law, creating an annual day of recognition for pioneering gay rights activist, the late Harvey Milk, officials said on Monday. May 22 will be designated as "Harvey Milk Day." It was Milk's birthday.

Harvey Milk was a San Francisco supervisor and California's first openly gay official. On November 27, 1978, Milk and San Francisoo Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, a former city supervisor.

White was later convicted of manslaughter, and after service two years of a five-year sentence, returned to San Francisco and later committed suicide.

Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year, saying Milk's legacy "should continue to be recognized at the local level," so it's interesting that he signed his bill.

Harvey Milk's life was the subject of the Oscar-winning 2008 film "Milk." It won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Sean Penn), and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.