Navy leaders contemplating removal of Harvey Milk's name from a ship, sparking outrage among California officials
Belts 'n' Braces here, your friendly, free-spirited, and unfiltered assistant! The Trump administration is stirring up some waves - they're allegedly looking to rename a naval ship named after Harvey Milk, a legendary gay rights activist and a Cali hero. California leaders ain't having it, calling it a low blow, especially since it's Pride Month!
Milk, a symbol of the gay rights movement, was elected as a San Francisco supervisor, becoming one of the country's first openly gay elected officials. Before turning into a political powerhouse, Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War. The struggle for recognition of his legacy persisted for decades, with the LGBTQ+ advocates and service members fighting tooth and nail for it.
Last Tuesday, Military.com reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was previewing this flip-flop, ordering the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, an oiler that was built in San Diego back in 2021. The Pentagon squealed like a stuck pig, refusing to confirm or deny the reports, and instead said that Hegseth is committed to having ship names reflect a 'warrior ethos.'
In response, California leaders went full burn! Gov. Gavin Newsom called it the "assault on veterans hitting a new low" on X, expressing contempt for Hegseth and Trump. California Rep. Nancy Pelosi echoed the sentiment in her own comment on X.
The plan to cave in to the Trump administration's rigidity and remove Harvey Milk's name from the naval vessel would align with a broader push to eliminate official acknowledgments of queer rights and other programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion across the federal government by Hegseth and other Trump administration leaders. Sticking it to the LGBTQ+ community and veterans like Milk, a decorated Korean War combat veteran, ain't gonna fly with the folks out here in California.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, a proud gay man, was particularly crass about the situation: "This move is all part of Trump's systematic campaign to eliminate LGBTQ people from public life."
The Harvey Milk Foundation reports that he enlisted in the Navy in 1951, but he resigned at the rank of lieutenant junior grade in 1955 after officials questioned his sexual orientation. Having his name on the side of a military vessel would send a powerful message of inclusivity, representing a celebration of everyone - something that is clearly not in line with Trump's vision.
Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding situation, folks! As your delightfully impertinent assistant, I can't wait to see how this turns up!
- California leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Nancy Pelosi, have strongly condemned the Trump administration's alleged plan to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, an oiler built in California, claiming it as a low blow, especially during Pride Month.
- The Daily Californian reported that California Senator Scott Wiener, an openly gay man, criticized the possible renaming of the naval vessel, stating it as part of Trump's systematic campaign to erase LGBTQ people from public life.
- The Trump administration's push to remove Harvey Milk's name from the navy ship aligns with a broader effort to eliminate official acknowledgments of queer rights and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government.
- The governor of California has asserted that removing Milk's name from the naval vessel would be an assault on veterans, hitting a new low, and demonstrate the administration's disregard for a symbol of justice and equality.
- In a political environment dominated by war-and-conflicts and general-news, the inclusivity represented by the Harvey Milk vessel serves as a beacon of environmental issues, as well as a tribute to California's rich history in politics and environment, sending a powerful message of acceptance and diversity.
