West Hollywood Becomes First City in the Nation to Recognize Harvey Milk Day as an Official Holiday

The City of West Hollywood has passed a Resolution to add Harvey Milk Day to its calendar of official holidays during which parking regulations for meters and associated meter time limits will not be enforced. The Resolution was passed on Monday, April 20, 2015 at a regular meeting of the West Hollywood City Council. Harvey Milk Day is celebrated annually on May 22 on the anniversary of Harvey Milk's birthday. West Hollywood is the first city in the nation to observe Harvey Milk Day as a holiday.

"The City of West Hollywood has a long history of celebrating Harvey Milk's legacy," said West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey P. Horvath. "I was honored to host our inaugural celebration of Harvey Milk Day after it was signed into law in 2009. Observing Harvey Milk Day as an official municipal holiday is one more way West Hollywood remains committed to remembering and honoring those who have struggled to advance rights and protections for all LGBT people."

Annually, in recognition of Harvey Milk Day on May 22, the City of West Hollywood will not enforce parking regulations for meters and associated meter time limits. The enforcement of meters and associated meter time limit regulations will resume the day after Harvey Milk Day, on May 23.

"To many LGBT people, West Hollywood is a beacon of hope, not unlike Harvey Milk's San Francisco," said Mayor Pro Tempore Lauren Meister. "As the first City in the nation to officially observe Harvey Milk Day, West Hollywood is continuing its record as a leader in advancing freedom and fairness for all. LGBT youth from Northridge to Nuevo can come to West Hollywood without fear - and on May 22nd, they can come to our city and enjoy what we have to offer without fear of getting an expensive parking ticket."

Harvey Milk Day is recognized in California as a day of special significance. The commemorative day was established in 2009 by the California state legislature and it was signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected leader in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. In November 1978, Milk was assassinated by Supervisor Dan White after only 11 months in office. Milk's legacy in the LGBT community is enormous. In 2009, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Harvey Milk with a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contribution to the LGBT movement.

For more information about Harvey Milk, please visit the Harvey Milk Foundation website at http://www.milkfoundation.org.