California's inaugural festivities in honor of gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk took place over the weekend in San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting.
The first-ever "day of significance" was highlighted by a plaque dedication ceremony outside of Milk's old camera shop. Scheduled around what would have been the former city supervisor's 80th birthday, community service gatherings and political fundraisers were planned from LA to San Fran.
Milk became the first openly gay elected official from a major U.S. city when he won election to the San Fran Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assassinated the following year by Dan White, a colleague on the board.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, State Sen. Mark Leno (who sponsored the bill) and State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano addressed guests at a fundraiser at the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center on Market Street.
Gov. Schwarzenegger signed Harvey Milk Day into law last October, despite opponents claims that California teachers would be forced to teach children about homosexuality in classrooms.
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