Former San Francisco supervisor and gay civil rights leader Harvey Milk is among 13 new inductees to the California Hall of Fame, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver announced today.
The California Hall of Fame was created in 2006 by Shriver and the California Museum in Sacramento “to honor legendary people who embody California’s innovative spirit and have made their mark on history,” according to the museum’s Web site.
Milk, the former Castro District supervisor and the first openly gay elected official of any large city in the country, was assassinated in 1978 along with Mayor George Moscone by former Supervisor Dan White.
State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, said in a statement today that the announcement “recognizes the important leadership role Harvey Milk played in our state and nation and further illustrates the historic and international nature of his legacy.”
“He gave his life for what he believed in, and in doing so gave hope to generations of LGBT Californians who continue to struggle for full equality,” Leno said.
Leno is the author of state Senate Bill 572, which would create Harvey Milk Day in California. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill Leno introduced last year. The new bill is awaiting a hearing in the state Assembly.
This year’s other Hall of Fame inductees include filmmaker George Lucas and former Oakland Raiders coach and NFL commentator John Madden.
The others are entertainer Carol Burnett; former Intel CEO Andrew Grove; former California governor and U.S. Sen. Hiram Johnson; decathlete Rafer Johnson; industrialist Henry J. Kaiser; peace activist Joan Kroc; artist Fritz Scholder; author Danielle Steel; bodybuilding pioneer Joe Weider; and Air Force pilot Chuck Yeager.
An induction ceremony and unveiling of an exhibit about the new Hall of Fame members will be held Dec. 1 at the museum.
Last month, President Obama awarded Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
