The day was established by the California legislature and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009. Having vetoed the legislation in 2008, Gov. Schwarzenegger was persuaded to reverse his position after a series of petitions led by gay rights activist Daren I. Ball,[5] President Barack Obama’s decision to award Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the release of the award-winning feature film Milk retracing Milk’s life.[6][7][8]