This May, schools countywide will once again raise the rainbow flag in celebration of Harvey Milk Day to honor the legacy of Harvey Milk, a local gay rights pioneer and California’s first openly gay elected official who helped pass our country’s first gay rights ordinance that sparked a number of other movements for LGBTQ+ rights throughout our country.
Harvey Milk Day was designated as a day of special significance in California in 2009 by Governor Schwarzenegger. The Santa Cruz COE has also made a number of age-appropriate curriculum about Harvey Milk and LGBTQ+ history available to teachers in an effort to increase awareness about LGBTQ+ history and celebrate the diversity of all of our students. Watch the recording of our educator preview to learn how educators can get started.
Watch a recording from Monday’s flag raising ceremony at the COE, including a beautiful performance from the Santa Cruz High School Choir.