Why did she get a tribute and a day proclaimed? I'm having a hard time figuring this out... Did she do something that no one else had every done? Did she do something in a particularly remarkable way?

Her entire life has been devoted to public service, and odds are, she's going to die of brain cancer very very soon. Just a small way of honoring a woman who has served the public earnestly.

It's not a small way. It is exceptional, and inconsistent with precedent for some unstated reasons.

Proclamations by Mayors, Councils and County Executives are rather common, Aaron. Given that Cheryl is the only person I can think of who actually served on the Seattle City Council and Seattle School Board (and the terminal cancer thing), there simply isn't anything unusual (or undeserved) about this.

Did Charlie Mas picket outside?

@3, settle down, this is fine and dandy, not inconsistent with any damn thing. Google is happy to reveal a sample of our Council's various proclamations, some sublime, others less so.

Million Mom March Day, Grassroots Day, J.P. Patches Day, Security Officer Appreciation Day, Olympic Day, David Brewster Day, Navy League Day, Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Hiroshima Day, Trudy Weckworth Day, Eating Disorders Awareness Week, Bernie Whitebear Remembrance Day, Dave Niehaus Day, "Bow Down to Washington" Husky Stadium Day, Year of the Seattle Animal Shelter, Bhopal Remembrance Day, Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Uwajimaya Day, Horizon House Week, Hunger Action Week, Judy Shephard Day

Get back to me when we declare a Greg Nickles day. Because he's dying and was at least as effective. As are we all.

I think what this is really about is her very belated coming out. Which is bullshit, to award her a day for that. At least J.P. Patches made people happy.

While I am sorry for her health problems and support her decision to come out, I will never forgive her for her treatment of Tom Hudson, one of the best teachers I ever had.

Happy "Dying Lesbian" Day everyone!