US Navy to Honor LGBTQ+ Pioneer Harvey Milk with Ship Renaming

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The U.S. Navy is gearing up to change the name of the USNS Harvey Milk, a replenishment vessel named after a prominent gay rights advocate and Navy veteran, following an order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.This decision, announced during Pride Month, has sparked critically important backlash from civil rights groups and various lawmakers. Citing information from multiple media sources, it seems Hegseth directed Navy Secretary John Phelan to kick off this renaming process as part of an initiative aimed at reinforcing what he describes as “warrior culture” within the military.

Insiders suggest that the official announcement regarding the name change is expected on June 13 and could take place aboard the USS Constitution, which holds the title of being the oldest commissioned naval ship still in service.

A dedicated team within the Navy has been assembled to come up with a new name for this vessel, which belongs to a class of oilers named after civil rights figures. The USNS Harvey Milk began its service in late 2024 and is currently undergoing maintenance in Alabama; it was launched in 2021 with intentions to honor LGBTQ+ military personnel.

A spokesperson for the Pentagon indicated that Hegseth’s directive aligns with priorities set by leadership focused on strength and conventional values. They also mentioned that any renaming will follow thorough internal evaluations.

Former House Speaker nancy Pelosi criticized this move as a “shameful erasure” of Milk’s contributions. She argued that such actions do not reflect American ideals or enhance national security or unity within military ranks.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for reconsideration of this decision while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled it “an utter abomination,” asserting it attempts to erase significant parts of American history.

Harvey Milk served his country as a diving officer during his time aboard submarine rescue ships amid the Korean War but faced discrimination when he was discharged under less than honorable circumstances due to inquiries about his sexual orientation. Years later, he became one of America’s first openly gay elected officials before being assassinated in 1978 after championing groundbreaking anti-discrimination laws in San francisco. In recognition of his legacy, he received posthumously awarded honors like the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.

The naming ceremony for USNS Harvey Milk took place back in 2016 under then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus’s leadership; Milk’s family supported this tribute wholeheartedly. Notably, Stuart Milk—Harvey’s nephew—declined an offer from the Navy to upgrade Harvey’s discharge status back in 2021 so as not to erase historical injustices faced by LGBTQ service members.Changing a ship’s name once it’s been commissioned is quite rare and often viewed unfavorably within naval traditions; many believe it’s considered “bad luck” once at sea. However, there have been exceptions: earlier this year saw two vessels—the USS Chancellorsville and USNS Maury—renamed due to their connections with confederate history based on bipartisan recommendations rather than direct orders like those issued by Hegseth now.

Interestingly enough, other ships are also under scrutiny for potential renaming according to internal documents obtained by CBS News; these include vessels named after notable figures such as Supreme Court Justices Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg along with abolitionist Harriet Tubman among others—all part of John Lewis-class oilers yet unfinished or still awaiting completion.

Concerns have arisen over recent removals related specifically to diversity initiatives within federal agencies including military branches—a move seen by some critics as limiting depiction efforts across various sectors. Earlier directives issued by Hegseth even sought restrictions against celebrating events tied into identity months like Pride Month or Black History Month citing threats against unity among troops—a sentiment echoed historically through executive orders signed during Trump’s management focusing solely on binary gender recognition while banning DEI programs throughout government entities altogether.