Defense Secretary Hegseth advocates for the removal of active gay personnel from Navy vessels
** engaged in a heated debate ** in various social media platforms over the decision, with many condemning the move as disrespectful, while others argue it aligns with the Trump administration's priorities.
According to reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has chosen to remove the name of Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights activist, from the supply ship "USNS Harvey Milk." The new name for the ship remains undetermined. Yet, some sources indicate that it will be in line with the Trump administration's goal to revive the "warrior culture" within the U.S. military [1].
The timing of the renaming seems purposeful as Pride Month, a celebration of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, is in full swing. On Tuesday night, CBS News reported that other ships honoring civil rights activists could potentially be renamed as well. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, criticized Hegseth's plan as "malicious, shameful, and vengeful" [2].
Harvey Milk (1930-1978), a former diver in the Navy during the Korean War, was discharged dishonorably due to his sexual orientation. Later in life, he became a prominent advocate for gay rights and served as the first openly gay politician to be elected to the San Francisco city council in the '70s [3]. In November 1978, Milk and liberal Mayor George Moscone were both killed by a gunman in city hall. Milk's life was depicted in the 2008 Oscar-winning film "Milk," directed by Gus Van Sant.
Previously, Hegseth laid out new guidelines for the U.S. armed forces in a strategic paper, stating that measures promoting diversity were "incompatible with Pentagon values" [3]. In an interview with Fox News, Hegseth proposed these guidelines should be "eradicated" to revert to the military's "foundational principles" comprising high standards.
Sources:1. ntv.de, DPA2. CBS News3. Time Magazine
The US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has stirred controversy by ordering the renaming of the Navy ship USNS Harvey Milk, a decision that has prompted intense debate on social media platforms. This move, made amidst Pride Month, follows Hegseth's recent strategic paper that deemed diversity initiatives incompatible with Pentagon values. Meanwhile, some sources suggest that other ships named after civil rights activists could also be subject to a name change.
