California leaders are expressing outrage over plans to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship named after the late gay rights leader and Navy veteran. The Pentagon has not confirmed the renaming, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly committed to ensuring that ship names reflect a “warrior ethos” and align with President Donald Trump’s priorities.
The USNS Harvey Milk, part of the John Lewis-class of ships named after civil rights leaders, honors Milk’s legacy as a pioneering figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War and was later elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming one of the first openly gay officials in the U.S. He was assassinated in 1978.
According to NPR, the renaming is part of a broader effort by Hegseth to remove references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from military programs and assets. This move has sparked criticism, especially during Pride Month, with many viewing it as a deliberate insult to LGBTQ+ troops.
Military Times reports that the decision has drawn backlash from various groups, including VoteVotes, a progressive veterans activist group, which called the renaming a “deliberate insult.” Nancy Pelosi, former House speaker, condemned the decision as “shameful” and a “vindictive erasure” of those who fought for equality.
The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk is expected to be finalized soon, with a new name to be announced. Other ships named after civil rights icons, such as the USNS Thurgood Marshall and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, are also under review for potential renaming.
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