U.S. Navy to Phase Out Ship Named After LGBTQ Icon Harvey Milk

The renaming initiative, which also includes other ships named after civil rights leaders, has sparked backlash from Democrats who deem it a regressive move against diversity and inclusion efforts within the military.

In a controversial decision, the U.S. Navy has announced plans to rename the ship honoring Harvey Milk, a prominent gay rights leader and Navy veteran, amidst a shift in military culture under the Trump administration. Documents obtained by CBS News outline the timeline for the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, set to be publicized during Pride Month, which commemorates the LGBTQ community and the Stonewall riots of 1969.

The decision is part of a broader directive from the Pentagon aimed at reestablishing a traditional military ethos, according to Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is tasked with selecting a new name for the vessel, with this decision subject to a legal review before being communicated to other senior Navy officials. Other ships, including the USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg and USNS Harriet Tubman, are also on the list for potential renaming.

Harvey Milk made history as California's first openly gay elected official when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, but his service was tragically cut short when he was assassinated just ten months after taking office. The renaming process follows a previous directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, which barred military personnel from participating in events related to heritage or awareness months like Pride Month, ostensibly to preserve unity within the armed forces.

The move has drawn significant criticism from leading Democrats, such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has characterized it as a "vindictive erasure" of those who fought for civil rights advancements. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed similar sentiments, expressing shame over the decision. The military’s shifting stance against diversity initiatives aligns with President Trump’s executive orders this year reaffirming traditional gender distinctions and curtailing diversity and inclusion programs aimed at promoting representation for historically marginalized groups.