
The chairman of the Orange County (California) Board of Education says she is "appalled" that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is asking schools to set aside a day to honor a controversial homosexual activist.
Schwarzenegger signed a bill earlier this week creating an annual  day of recognition for Harvey Milk. The designation of each May 22 as "Harvey  Milk Day" encourages schools around the state to commemorate the murdered  homosexual politician and activist.
 
Last  month, the Orange County Board of Education voted unanimously (5-0) to oppose  the creation of Harvey Milk Day. Dr. Alexandria Coronado, chairman of that  board, says she is "absolutely furious" that the homosexual community is  claiming that passage of the Harvey Milk bill is a civil rights  victory.
 
"I think it just absolutely denigrates the entire  civil rights movement. Homosexuality is not a civil right," Coronado  emphasizes.
 
"I don't remember the last time that a homosexual person was  forced to move out of their seat on a public bus, like Rosa Parks. And I don't  remember the last time that a homosexual person or student...was forced to go to  a segregated school, as in the case of Mendez v. Westminster, which took place  right here in Orange County, California."
 
Dr. Coronado says she also  opposes Harvey Milk Day because several Californians are more worthy than Milk  of a special day of recognition, including the late President Ronald Reagan and  former Governor Pat Brown. She also argues that Harvey Milk Day wastes school  staff time and money that could be used for more educational purposes.