via San Fransisco Chronicle

Sean Penn may have won best actor for his stunning performance as Harvey Milk, but he says he won’t be satisfied until the legendary gay rights activist has a state-wide recognized and celebrated holiday.

Penn and California State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) announced legislation that will be introduced to create a Harvey Milk Day in California. The day would recognize the late politician’s birthday, May 22. Under the proposal, it wouldn’t be a paid state holiday but a day of “special significance” that would help schools to participate in recognizing Milk’s pioneering role in the gay rights movement.

Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed this same bill last year, saying that Milk should be recognized in San Francisco but not statewide.

Leno disagrees that the celebration should stay on a local level, stating “we now have good proof that Harvey Milk's work was of a universal nature in promoting respect and dignity."

Sean Penn hopes that with the success of the film, Schwarzenegger will see the state and worldwide interest in Milk and will agree to sign the bill. And he has the Oscar to prove it! Milk may not have won “best film” but it did spark interest in the gay cause.

Between the film's popularity and the outrage at the passage of Prop 8, do you think the bill will pass? Do you agree with Sean Penn that Harvey Milk’s name and cause are holiday worthy? Let us know, comment below!

By CGG reporter, Caroline Kotter