Aug 11 2008
The Harvey Milk Day
The Harvey Milk Day if passed by the California government will require one day a year of celebrating the life of this man along with other gay, bi-sexual, lesbian and transgender persons. Many people are furious with the government for trying to pass this bill. They are asking Schwarzenegger to veto the bill.
The bill, known as the AB 2567, will require schools to celebrate the day learning about gays and how they live. As long as they teach the children that being gay is not horrible or bad, I see no reason why it would be bad. Many think the bill will encourage children to be gay. Does anyone really think or read about gay people before opposing something.
Just because you try to educate kids about the gay life, does not mean you are encouraging them to be gay. You want kids to grow up in acceptance of the gay community, which is what the world needs to put a stop to gay hate crimes. No one will become gay if they learn about a different sexual orientation. No one became black learning about Martin Luther King or the others in history.
Harvey Milk was a very well known and accomplished man. The only reason people do not want to celebrate his day is that he was gay and spoke out in support of gays. The bill is expected to reach the desk of Schwarzenegger for signing or vetoing soon. People are already lobbying to get the Governor to veto the bill.
I have yet to figure out why some people think if same-sex marriage is legalized or even mentioned that somehow the world will suddenly turn gay. Our local paper constantly has letters written in stating such as well.
Yes, homosexuality does go against my personal religious beliefs but I also have many gay friends - who tend to be far better friends and people than many who attend my church!
Good luck with getting the bill passed. I would like to know what would happen if suddenly it came out that Lincoln or Washington were gay. Would we stop celebrating their birthdays? Would the Civil War then be meaningless?
Fear and ignorance are the two worst enemies of America (and the world) and sadly far too many are more than happy to live with both.
I am not big on such actions. Although I think homophobes are idiotic, they have the right to be such. I do not feel this is an area where schools should be interfering. Does this make sense? I am not opposing because it is a gay issue, but because such things I believe should be taught at home…I would oppose a Jesus Day at school for the same reason.
I understand your opinion aebersole. I think if it is a recognized day, every grade should treat it and celebrate it to suit the age group. I am sure this is the intended way to celebrate the day.
Politics 101- I like your way of thinking. What if a past president that made history was found to be gay. I wonder what the world would say then.
I personally feel that kids need to be educated because parents are not always going to teach the kids in the right way.
This reminds me of a story about kids being taught in school about being hit or spanked. It is taught in school so that it stops child abuse. However, some kids do need to be spanked for being naughty.
My daughter learned in school that you cannot spank your child or they can go to jail. One day she went into my bedroom and stole coins valued at over $300 and spent it at the store on candy and other things she wanted. She was young, but I went to spank her and she told me that I could not spank her or I would go to jail when she told her teacher.
After the shock wore off, I spanked her anyway and then told her to go to school and tell her teacher why I spanked her and if she should (my daughter) go to jail for stealing.
Learning early in school not to discriminate is healthy for the world. The hate has to stop somewhere if it is done tastefully.
What is the status of the bill? Has it been signed or has it been vetoed?
As of Friday, it had not been signed yet. I keep looking every day.