Navy’s Plan to Rename USNS Harvey Milk Sparks Outcry During Pride Month
So, let’s talk about something both timely and controversial—right now, the U.S. Navy is considering renaming several of its ships, and one of the most talked-about among them is the USNS Harvey Milk . Yes, the ship named after the slain gay rights icon and Navy veteran could soon be called something else. And this is happening during Pride Month —a month that honors and remembers LGBTQ+ history and progress. The timing is as symbolic as it is unsettling for many.
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Harvey Milk wasn’t just a politician. He was a pioneer. Elected in 1977 to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, he became one of the first openly gay elected officials in U.S. history. His courage, activism, and tragic assassination in 1978 made him a lasting symbol for LGBTQ+ rights. The USNS Harvey Milk was christened in 2021, part of the John Lewis-class ships named after civil rights leaders. It was a meaningful gesture by the Navy—a step toward honoring those who fought for equality.
But now, under the Trump administration’s Pentagon, there's a push to "reestablish the warrior culture." As part of that, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the renaming of certain ships, including the USNS Harvey Milk. According to documents obtained by CBS News, the plan includes removing names from vessels associated with civil rights icons such as Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman, and Cesar Chavez.
Critics, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are calling it what it is: a shameful erasure of history. Pelosi said, “This spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the ‘warrior ethos.’ It’s a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.” And honestly, it’s hard to disagree.
These ships were named not just to reflect strength in battle but strength in principle. They represented progress, representation, and recognition of those historically left behind. Changing their names sends a chilling message—that there's only one kind of hero worth honoring. And that message is not only divisive; it’s regressive.
Whatever name ends up on the hull of that ship, the legacy of Harvey Milk cannot be painted over. His fight for justice, his boldness in the face of hate, and the hope he inspired live on—not just in the LGBTQ+ community but in every American who believes in equality and dignity for all.
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