date filters not getting correct current date

PHP Version 5.2.3

I have created a content type called "events" and a field for the event date.
I'm trying to create a view that will only show events after the current date.
I believe drupal is using 01/01/09 as the current date no matter what.
My filter looks like this:

Date: Date Content: Date (field_bio_event_date) - value >= now

but the sql statement when updating the view looks like this(excerpt):

...
WHERE (node.type in ('bio_event'))
AND (DATE_FORMAT(STR_TO_DATE(node_data_field_bio_event_date.field_bio_event_date_value, '%Y-%m-%dT%T'), '%Y-%m-%d') >= '2009-01-01')

phpini shows current date correctly.