Defense Secretary renames naval vessel to honor American gay icon.
In a turn of events that's sparking heated discussions, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has set his sights on renaming a Navy ship that bears the name of the late Harvey Milk, a trailblazing gay rights activist and politician. As reported by Military.com, this decision seems to align with Hegseth's push for a 'warrior culture' revamp in the country's armed forces.
Sources close to the situation have revealed that Defense Secretary Hegseth has ordered Navy Secretary John Phelan to rechristen the USNS Harvey Milk, with the timing of the announcement, during Pride Month, being deliberate. CBS News is suggesting that this potentially isn't a one-off move; the Navy might be considering renaming other ships as well. The Pentagon, so far, has remained silent on the matter.
Harvey Milk served as a Navy diver, albeit at a time when homosexuality was strictly banned in the military. Despite the odds, he made history as one of the first openly gay politicians in the U.S., serving on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, where he championed laws that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Tragically, Milk, along with Mayor George Moscone, was assassinated by a former city supervisor in 1978.
The move to rename the USNS Harvey Milk seems to be part of a broader strategy, with reports suggesting that the administration is considering renaming six other ships in the John Lewis-class fleet, which are named after powerful civil rights leaders and significant women. This decision has faced criticism, especially from LGBTQ+ advocates and California officials, who see it as a disrespectful act towards the community, particularly during Pride month.
Interestingly, this development comes during a time when the Department of Defense has been on a mission to scale down Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, removing certain books from service academies and modifying content on DOD websites to minimize mentions of women and people of color. President Donald Trump has previously taken steps to bar transgender individuals from the armed forces and dismantle gender diversity programs, asserting that they hinder leadership, merit, and unit cohesion.
- The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, a Navy ship named after Harvey Milk, a trailblazing gay rights activist and politician, appears to be part of a broader strategy, as sources suggest the administration is considering renaming six other ships in the John Lewis-class fleet.
- Amidst heated discussions, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's push for a 'warrior culture' revamp in the country's armed forces seems to be extending to the realm of politics and general news, with the potential rechristening of ships with historical significance in the civil rights and LGBTQ+ movements.
