Sean Penn campaigns for a Harvey Milk day

Photo: Getty Images

Just a week after winning the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Harvey Milk, Sean Penn is now pushing to see the state of California officially recognize the gay activist on his birthday, May 22, each year.

Penn held a press conference yesterday with state Sen. Mark Leno, who's announcing plans to "reintroduce a bill designating Milk's birthday a "day of significance" encouraging schools to conduct commemorative exercises on Milk's life and contributions," Variety reports.

Last year California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the exact same bill, which was introduced by Leno when he was an Assembly member. Schwarzenegger then claimed that Milk was worthy of being honored, but argued the day should be limited to San Francisco, rather than be a statewide affair. Perhaps an Oscar or two might help change the Terminator's mind?

Previously > Gearing -- and gaying -- up for the Academy Awards

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[Budget Hotels]

As we know that Sean Penn, who has a bad guy public image that dates way back in his early career breakthrough, managed to persuasively bring to mind renowned magnetism of Harvey Milk, who was shot to death in 1978 at San Francisco City Hall. "He came in kind of ready made" for the part, openly gay "Milk" helmer Gus Van Sant explained.

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Penn also condemned supporters of Proposition 8,in his speech of controversial acceptance.