Defense Secretary Orders Navy to Remove Harvey Milks Name from Ship Sparking Controversy

Defense Secretary Orders Removal of Harvey Milks Name from Navy Ship | Pride Month Controversy

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders the Navy to strip Harvey Milks name from a ship during Pride Month sparking backlash over the erasure of LGBTQ and civil rights legacies .

Overview

In a move that has ignited national controversy US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to remove the name of the late gay rights icon Harvey Milk from a naval ship The directive issued during LGBTQ Pride Month targets the USNS Harvey Milk — a fleet oiler named in 2016 to honor the pioneering civil rights leader and former Navy officer .

The decision aligns with the Trump administrations broader campaign to restore what it terms a warrior culture in the military That initiative includes removing names associated with diversity equity and inclusion DEI efforts as well as civil rights figures .

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Background on the USNS Harvey Milk

The USNS Harvey Milk is a John Lewis class fleet replenishment oiler named after Harvey Milk a former Navy officer who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War but was forced to resign in 1955 due to his sexual orientation — a decision that underscored the discriminatory policies of the time .

After leaving the military Milk became a leading advocate for LGBTQ rights and was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977 He was assassinated in 1978 but his legacy as a symbol of equality and justice endured eventually leading to the Navy honoring him with a ship bearing his name .

Administrations Rationale

According to an internal Department of Defense memo the renaming order is part of a broader review aimed at eliminating what the administration characterizes as DEI related influences within the military This includes removing names of ships that commemorate civil rights leaders such as Thurgood Marshall and Cesar Chavez .

Officials close to Hegseth say the goal is to realign the militarys image with traditional combat readiness values rather than what they view as politically charged social initiatives .

Public and Political Response

The decision has drawn strong backlash from political leaders LGBTQ organizations veterans groups and civil rights advocates .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi labeled the move a shameful vindictive erasure of Harvey Milks legacy and broader civil rights history California Governor Gavin Newsom called it an insult to a decorated veteran and a betrayal of American values during Pride Month .

Numerous LGBTQ advocacy organizations condemned the decision as an attack on inclusion and recognition especially given the symbolic importance of naming a Navy vessel after an openly gay figure forced out of service due to his identity .

Conclusion

The removal of Harvey Milks name from a Navy ship has reignited a national debate over the symbolism of military honors the role of civil rights in the armed forces and the future of diversity initiatives within the Department of Defense .

As the Navy prepares to rename the USNS Harvey Milk critics argue that the directive represents not just a change in nomenclature but a broader cultural shift — one that threatens to roll back decades of progress in military and societal inclusivity .