The USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy vessel named after the iconic gay rights activist and Navy veteran, will be renamed, although the Navy has not provided a reason for this decision. This announcement coincides with Pride Month, a time to celebrate LGBTQ contributions and achievements. Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before he was assassinated in 1978 alongside Mayor George Moscone. His life and legacy were dramatized in the 2008 film “Milk,” where Sean Penn won an Academy Award for his portrayal.
The USNS Harvey Milk is a fleet replenishment oiler designed to support other ships at sea. It was part of the John Lewis class of vessels named after notable civil rights figures, which also includes the USNS Thurgood Marshall and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Milk served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955, participating in the Korean War.
The decision to rename the vessel follows a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who advocated for the abandonment of cultural observances such as Pride Month, claiming they undermine military unity and mission effectiveness. Hegseth’s directive emphasizes a focus on camaraderie and warns against prioritizing one group over another within the military. This shift in policy has been part of a broader initiative to readdress names in the military, including recent discussions about renaming Fort Bragg, which was reverted back to its original name in 2023. The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk raises concerns about the ongoing recognition and support for LGBTQ individuals within military and national institutions.
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