SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco officials are criticizing the Trump administration for removing gay rights activist Harvey Milk’s name from a U.S. naval ship. This controversy arises during Pride Month, a time when many celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
Milk is a revered figure in San Francisco history, having served as a city supervisor and a champion for gay rights before being tragically shot in 1978 alongside Mayor George Moscone by a disgruntled former colleague, Dan White. Last month, California commemorated what would have been Milk’s 95th birthday with a declaration celebrating his call for authenticity, kindness, and unity.
He served in the Navy for four years during the Korean War before being discharged due to his sexual orientation. Milk later relocated to San Francisco, where he became one of the first openly gay politicians in 1977 after being elected to the Board of Supervisors.
His best friend and LGBTQ+ activist, Cleve Jones, has denounced the name change as a tactic by the Trump administration to distract the public from pressing issues like the conflict in Gaza and potential cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.
“Yes, this is cruel, trivial, and foolish. It’s unfortunate for my community,” Jones remarked. “Tonight, the typical American family sitting around their proverbial kitchen table is unlikely to be discussing how safe they feel now that Harvey’s name is being removed from the ship.”
No Pentagon confirmation has been issued regarding the name change, though an unnamed official indicated it was noted in an internal memo. This decision aligns with efforts by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and the broader Trump administration to eliminate all programs, policies, books, and social media references related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. A new name for the USNS Harvey Milk has not yet been announced.
Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, stated that he and the Harvey Milk Foundation had reached out to the Pentagon by phone on Wednesday.
“Our hope is that the recommendations are set aside, but if not, it will serve as a rallying cry for all marginalized communities, not just ours,” said Stuart Milk, the foundation’s executive chair.
“I don’t think he’s surprised,” Milk added. “But he would have encouraged us to remain vigilant and keep fighting.”
Elected leaders, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Governor Gavin Newsom, have decried the name change as a disgraceful attempt to erase the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals and an affront to the core values of veterans and those who have strived to create a better nation. Both Pelosi and Newsom are Democrats from San Francisco.
Newsom specifically criticized Hegseth, labeling the decision “a cowardly act from someone who seeks to divert attention from his failure to lead the Pentagon,” while posting on the social platform X.
In a statement, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized that Milk dedicated his life to serving his city and country, serving as an inspiration to all Americans. He refrained from mentioning Trump or Hegseth directly.
USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 by then-Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, who stated at the time that it was important to honor a leader who fought for civil and human rights.
Sean Penn portrayed Milk in an Oscar-winning 2008 film which depicted his courageous political stance, notably his lone “no” vote on a law that sought to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and his subsequent assassination.
“He has never seen the Secretary of Defense before; hence he has not degraded himself to the position of Chief Executive,” Penn remarked in a statement to the Associated Press on Wednesday.
Although re-naming vessels is uncommon, the Biden administration has changed the names of two naval ships in 2023 to remove Confederate names from U.S. military facilities.
Source: apnews.com