The U.S. Navy supply vessel formerly named after gay rights activist Harvey Milk will soon be renamed. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was the one who promulgated this decision. The move to remove Milk’s name from the vessel triggers a massive outcry from the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters. This outrage becomes even more salient when it comes at the start of Pride Month in early June.
Harvey Milk, who later became the first openly gay elected official in California as a San Francisco city supervisor. He continued to fight for gay rights until his assassination in 1978. He earned the nickname “Mayor of Castro Street” for his influential role in the LGBTQ+ community. In 2016, then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus named the supply vessel after Milk as part of the John Lewis-class of oilers, which honors leaders who fought for civil and human rights.
Hegseth so that Oscar V Peterson’s name can be restored to the vessel. Veterans Peterson, a chief petty officer, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea, World War II. To underscore the purpose of the renaming at hand, Hegseth stressed that the goal is to depoliticize ship naming. This decision has been met with fierce blowback.
Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk’s nephew, expressed disappointment with the decision, suggesting that it would serve as “a rallying cry not just for our community but for all minority communities.” He encouraged listeners to consider how his late uncle might encourage the public to be watchful and active in response to such moves.
Cleve Jones, a longtime friend of Harvey Milk and LGBTQ+ activist, was passionate about renaming. As he put it, “That’s cruel and petty and stupid,” pointing out that this policy is an affront to the community to which he has so deeply dedicated himself. Jones elaborated on the broader implications, stating, “I would be willing to wager a considerable sum that American families sitting around that proverbial kitchen table this evening are not going to be talking about how much safer they feel now that Harvey’s name is going to be taken off that ship.”
The backlash against the renaming gained momentum, with critics suggesting it reflects a growing trend of erasing representation for marginalized communities. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the decision, describing it as a “cowardly act from a man desperate to distract us from his inability to lead the Pentagon.” Taken together, these statements from Newsom reflect a broader persistent debate about the role of politics and representation in institutions such as the military.
Hegseth defended the decision by stating, “We are taking the politics out of ship naming,” and emphasized that people want to feel proud of the vessels representing their service. Taken together, his remarks show a serious attempt to restore some tradition and honor to naming conventions in the Navy.
Reactions continue to pour in regarding the vessel’s renaming. LGBTQ+ rights advocates are as passionate about protecting Harvey Milk’s legacy. This unexpected decision leaves outstanding questions about things like representation and inclusion in military honors. It further raises important questions about whose collective histories are being honored and remembered through these commemorations.