By Emily Sims
Washington D.C. – In a move sparking outrage and accusations of political vindictiveness, the US Navy is reportedly preparing to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship christened in 2021 in honor of the pioneering gay rights activist and assassinated San Francisco politician. The decision, according to multiple reports, comes at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and aligns with his stated goal of “reestablishing a warrior culture” within the US armed forces.
The Associated Press, Reuters, and Military.com, citing anonymous sources and a memo from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy, have reported the impending renaming. The USNS Harvey Milk, a John Lewis class of tanker, was named after Milk, a former Navy Lieutenant and one of the first openly gay politicians in America, as a tribute to his service and his legacy as a champion of equality.
CBS News further reports that the Navy is considering renaming other ships, including vessels named after former Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall, the first Black member of the court, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a renowned liberal icon.
Neither the Pentagon nor the US Navy has issued an official statement regarding these reports.
The potential renaming follows a series of actions taken by the Trump administration and Secretary Hegseth to dismantle diversity programs within the military. President Trump previously banned transgender troops from serving and has criticized diversity initiatives for allegedly “undermining leadership, merit, and unit cohesion, thereby eroding lethality and force readiness.” Hegseth has also eliminated diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and ended the observance of identity celebrations like Black History Month.
In February, Hegseth publicly stated his disdain for the phrase “our diversity is our strength,” calling it “the single dumbest phrase in military history.”
The reported decision has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Democrats. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi condemned the move as a “shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.”
“Harvey Milk proudly served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was a formidable force for change, not just in California, but in our country,” Pelosi said in a statement. “This spiteful move… is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.”
Harvey Milk’s life and legacy are intrinsically linked to the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. After serving in the Navy, he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, where he spearheaded legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. He was assassinated in 1978, along with Mayor George Moscone, by a disgruntled former city supervisor. His death cemented his place as a civil rights icon, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The potential renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk is being seen by many as a significant step backward in recognizing the contributions and sacrifices of LGBTQ+ individuals in the military and American society. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate surrounding diversity, inclusion, and the role of the military in reflecting the values of a changing nation.
