Nearly 30 years after gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay public official in California, was assassinated, a state assemblymember is proposing to establish a state holiday in his honor.

“Harvey Milk was a true American hero,” said California Assemblymember Mark Leno (13th District). “He gave hope to a generation of gay and lesbian individuals whose basic humanity and freedom had been denied and dishonored. His history is our history, and a day in his honor will preserve his legacy for generations to come.”

Leno has introduced bill AB2567 to the State Assembly to proclaim May 22 Harvey Milk Day.

“So what we’re creating is with this bill, the requirement that the governor, every May 22, would declare the day to be Harvey Milk Day in California,” Leno said.

The main goal of the proposed holiday is to raise general public awareness.

“Harvey Milk Day will provide a forum to raise public awareness of Milk’s work to extend basic human rights to all people and demonstrate that each one of us possesses the ability to create extraordinary change in our communities, our country and the world,” Leno said.

The San Diego Human Relations Commission (SDHRC) is the first organization to endorse the bill. Chair Nicole Murray-Ramirez wanted the SDHRC to be the first on record to support the bill.

“I put it on the agenda because I wanted so badly for San Diego to become the first to endorse it, and we passed it,” said Murray-Ramirez.

Leno was thrilled with the support.

“When my friend Nicole Murray- Ramirez called to tell me, it really put a smile on my face. We’re very honored and proud of [the SDHRC’s] leadership,” said Leno.

Equality California (EQCA) is sponsoring the bill.

“A state holiday honoring Milk’s legacy will forever remind us of what the courage of one person can accomplish, and of the critical work that still lies ahead to create a world where everyone can live openly and honestly,” said EQCA executive director Geoff Kors.

The bill couldn’t come at a better time. Two films on Milk’s life are currently in production, one by director Bryan Singer and based on the biography The Mayor of Castro Street, and the other by director Gus Van Sant, titled Milk.

In San Diego, following suit of the annual Martin Luther King Jr. and César Chàvez breakfasts, various GLBT community leaders are tentatively planning a Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast for 2009.

For Ramirez, Milk wasn’t only an extraordinary figure – he was also a friend.

“I went to San Francisco a lot and was introduced to him and we became quick friends and allies,” Murray-Ramirez said. “He was so down to earth, and sometimes wore the same clothes. You know, I would even say, ‘Harvey, I’ve seen you in that outfit for two years now.’ It didn’t matter to him. It wasn’t about looking good. It was about serving the public.”

Less than a year after being elected as city supervisor, Milk was assassinated, along with then Mayor George Moscone, by recently resigned city Supervisor Dan White. White was found guilty of manslaughter for both assassinations and sentenced to seven years in prison. White served five years of those years and began parole in early 84. Less then two years later, White committed suicide at his wife’s home in San Francisco.

Unlike most state holidays, Harvey Milk Day would have no fiscal impact because offices and employees would continue to operate normally on that day.

Given that if all goes well, the bill could be signed by late September.

“We’ve just introduced the bill and it will go to a policy committee for a hearing in March, then to the floor of the assembly,” Leno said. “If it passes the assembly then it goes to the senate, and then the process begins again and should we be successful in our efforts, it would reach the governors desk by the end of August, and he would have until the end of September to either sign or veto the bill.”

Whether Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign the bill is up in the air.

“We’ve had not any conversations yet with the administration so I don’t know but given that this is without any expense to the state, as I say by design, we’re in a horrible budgets crisis right now, so there’s hope that if we don’t have any cost attached to it that he should certainly show some leadership and respect for the community by signing this bill into law,” said Leno.