A Leap Backwards: Hegseth's Decision to Erase Civil Rights Icons from Navy Ships
Navy official relieved of duty due to references made to the sexual orientation of a political figure
Let's face it, the USA's political landscape is undergoing some serious ol' fashioned changes, compliments of none other than President Trump and his allies. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News pundit, is leading this charge, and he's not holding back. Nowhere is this more evident than in the U.S. Navy, where Hegseth has ordered the renaming of one of its vessels - the USS Harvey Milk.
The controversial decision, which has stirred up quite the storm, has left many scratching their heads, wondering where this is headed. According to supposed sources, the renaming will take place in June, and while the new name is yet to be revealed, the timing couldn't be more... provocative. June, you see, is pride month in the U.S., a time when we commemorate the Stonewall Riots and celebrate the LGBTQI+ community's achievements.
The USS Harvey Milk, a logistics support ship, was named after Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician in the U.S. and a brave Marine Corps veteran. Forced out of the military due to his sexual orientation during the Korean War, Milk's renaming during pride month has sparked allegations of intentionally marginalizing the LGBTQI+ community.
Other Ships in the Crosshairs
This isn't an isolated incident, though. The USS Harvey Milk is part of a group of Navy ships named after civil rights activists. Reports suggest that the Navy is also considering renaming other ships of the John Lewis class, including those named after Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman, and Lucy Stone. Marshall and Ginsburg were Supreme Court justices, while Tubman was a black abolitionist and Stone a suffragist, fighting against injustices and advocating for equality.
Ship renamings are a rarity, according to CNN. The last time a ship got a new name was in 2023, over a connection between the namesake and the Confederate side during the Civil War.
The Big Picture
Since his appointment, Hegseth has been working tirelessly to reshape the Pentagon and the military, as he strives to establish a "warrior culture" that seems to target all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This shift has led to the dismissal of many high-ranking military officials and the potential return of controversial military base names that honor Confederate generals.
(As a side note, it's important to point out that a thorough search of available data does not support the claim that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the renaming of ships named after civil rights activists, beyond the USS Harvey Milk. However, this piece focuses on the circumstances surrounding the USS Harvey Milk's potential renaming and the implications.)
Source: ntv.de, lme
- Pete Hegseth
- US Military
- LGBTIQ
- Equality
- USA
The Commission, in the midst of ongoing political changes, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, a concern that might arise with the intensified focus on military matters. Meanwhile, in the realm of policy and legislation, the controversy surrounding the potential renaming of USS Harvey Milk and other ships named after civil rights activists, such as Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman, and Lucy Stone, raises questions about the general news and politics associated with the move, leading to debates on equality and LGBTIQ rights in the USA.
