Schwarzenegger gets mixed reception on gay bill

LOS ANGELES: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met with criticism as well as praise this week after signing controversial state bills affirming gay rights.

Among a slew of bills that the Republican governor signed into law late on Sunday, one of the most controversial might be a bill proclaiming gay rights activist Harvey Milk's May 22 birthday as a day of recognition and encouraging schools to consider commemoration of his life.

"He has become much more of a symbol of the gay community than he was a year ago," Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said. "That made the difference from last year: he's really come to symbolize the gay community in California." The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.