US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has instructed the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship launched in 2021 and named after the influential gay rights activist and Navy veteran, who was forced to resign due to his sexual orientation. The official renaming is anticipated later this month, coinciding with Pride Month, although the new name has yet to be revealed.
Renaming a ship is a rare occurrence, particularly when ordered by a Secretary of Defence, and this decision follows a recent trend wherein military vessels have been renamed based on a congressional commission’s recommendations concerning names associated with the Confederacy. In 2023, vessels such as the USS Chancellorsville and USNS Maury were renamed as part of this initiative.
The USNS Harvey Milk is part of the John Lewis class of oiler ships, which honours civil rights leaders, alongside others like the USNS Robert F. Kennedy and USNS Sojourner Truth. Hegseth’s focus on fostering a “warrior culture” within the military is evident in this action, which includes scrapping diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and reversing military base names associated with Confederate ties.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed disappointment over the proposed renaming, labelling it a vindictive act that undermines the contributions of those who fought for equality. She remarked that such decisions do not enhance national security but instead reflect a retreat from fundamental American values of honour and progress.
At the time of its launch, the ship’s naming reflected an administration supportive of diversity, a sentiment echoed by then-Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who praised Milk’s impactful legacy. Milk, a significant figure in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, served in the Navy during the Korean War, a period when openly acknowledging one’s sexual orientation was not accepted.
Milk’s activism began after his military service, and he played a pivotal role in supporting LGBTQ+ rights in San Francisco. In 1977, he became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. His work included the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation, which significantly benefitted the gay community. Tragically, Milk was assassinated in 1978, along with Mayor George Moscone, by a disgruntled former city supervisor.
This renaming initiative marks a significant turn in military naming conventions, reflecting broader societal changes and the ongoing discussions around representation and historical memory.