Leaders in San Francisco have criticized the Trump administration's decision to remove the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk from a U.S. naval ship, particularly during Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Harvey Milk, who served as a city supervisor and gay rights advocate, was shot and killed in 1978 by a disgruntled former supervisor, Dan White. Milk’s legacy is deeply treasured in San Francisco, exemplified by the recent commemorations of what would have been his 95th birthday, highlighting his authenticity and commitment to unity.
Milk's time in the Navy during the Korean War ended when he was discharged due to his sexual orientation. He later moved to San Francisco and became one of the world’s first openly gay elected officials when he was elected to the Board of Supervisors in 1977. LGBTQ+ activist Cleve Jones, a close friend of Milk, has denounced the renaming as a diversion tactic by the Trump administration to shift focus from pressing issues like the ongoing conflict in Gaza and potential cuts to Medicaid and Social Security.
Jones stated, “Yes, this is cruel and petty and stupid, and yes, it’s an insult to my community. 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.”
Although the Pentagon has yet to publicly confirm the renaming decision, unnamed officials indicated that it is detailed in an internal memo. The changes align with ongoing efforts by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the broader Trump administration to eliminate references to diversity, equity, and inclusion from military initiatives. Currently, a new name for the USNS Harvey Milk has not been disclosed.
Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's nephew and executive chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation, revealed that they reached out to the Pentagon, which acknowledged the proposed name change. He expressed hope that the recommendation would be reconsidered, noting that if it proceeds, it would serve as a rallying point not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for all minority groups. He emphasized that his uncle believed in the necessity of constant vigilance for the rights of gay people and other marginalized communities.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both prominent San Francisco Democrats, have condemned the purported renaming, labeling it a disgraceful effort to erase the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals and an affront to the core American values of honoring veterans. Newsom specifically criticized Hegseth, calling the move "a cowardly act from a man desperate to distract us from his inability to lead the Pentagon" via the social platform X.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie remarked on Milk’s dedication to serving both the city and the country, reinforcing his role as a prominent figure for all Americans while refraining from directly naming Trump or Hegseth in his comments.
The USNS Harvey Milk was commissioned in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who intended for the John Lewis-class oilers to honor leaders committed to civil and human rights. In 2008, Sean Penn portrayed Milk in an Oscar-winning film that chronicled his influential political career and tragic assassination.
Penn responded to the news by expressing amazement at how a Secretary of Defense could degrade themselves to such a level. While renaming naval vessels is not common, the Biden administration previously removed Confederate names from Navy ships as part of its broader reform agenda.
