Navy Removes Harvey Milk from Ship Amid Pride Month Backlash

The Navy has begun the process of removing the name of Harvey Milk—a historic LGBTQ+ rights icon—from one of its ships, according to internal memos and confirmed defense sources. The move, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has sparked widespread criticism, especially since the decision coincides with Pride Month.

Harvey Milk made history in the 1970s as one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. He was later assassinated for his activism. In 2016, the Navy honored his legacy by naming a John Lewis-class oiler, the USNS Harvey Milk, in his name. That honor is now set to be reversed.

A Controversial Directive | Navy Renames Ship

Military.com obtained a Navy memo showing that preparations are underway to rename the USNS Harvey Milk. Sources said Navy Secretary John Phelan was directed to execute the change by Hegseth himself. The memo mentioned the goal of aligning with “president and SECDEF objectives” and restoring a “warrior culture,” signaling ideological motivation under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The Navy plans to announce the new name aboard the historic USS Constitution on June 13. The new ship name has not yet been revealed.

Pride Month Timing Raises Eyebrows | Ship Naming Controversy

The decision’s timing—during Pride Month—has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, veterans, and public officials. Many see it as a calculated move to marginalize civil rights pioneers.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned the decision in a public statement, calling it a “surrender of American values.” She argued that removing Milk’s name weakens the Navy’s moral standing and disrespects those who broke down barriers for equality.

“Our military draws strength from diversity. This spiteful move does not reflect a warrior’s honor,” Pelosi added.

A Rare Reversal in Naval Tradition

Renaming a ship after its christening is almost unheard of in Navy tradition. The last time this occurred was in 2023, when the Navy renamed two ships with Confederate ties—actions recommended by a Congressional commission. In contrast, the removal of Milk’s name was a top-down directive without public input.

The USNS Harvey Milk is currently in drydock in Alabama for maintenance and upgrades, expected to wrap by the end of June. That timeline aligns with the planned name change.

Milk’s Legacy: From Officer to Icon

Milk was commissioned as a naval officer in 1951 and served as a diving officer during the Korean War. He left the Navy in 1955 with a less than honorable discharge after officials questioned his sexual orientation—a common fate for LGBTQ+ service members at the time.

Despite his exit from the military, Milk’s impact on civil rights only grew. He won a seat on San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977 and championed legislation banning housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. He was assassinated in 1978 but left a legacy that earned him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. | Navy Removes Harvey Milk

More Ship Names Under Review?

According to a CBS report, other John Lewis-class oilers may also face renaming. These include the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and USNS Harriet Tubman. While some of these vessels are still under construction, advocates warn that this may mark the beginning of a broader ideological rollback.

Pelosi described the potential renaming of these ships as “a shameful erasure of those who broke barriers so others could chase the American Dream.”

A Message Beyond the Military

For many, the removal of Harvey Milk’s name is more than a Navy decision—it’s a political statement. The action has ignited debates around who the military chooses to honor and why.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and veterans’ organizations are calling for transparency and urging the public to push back against the trend of erasing progressive and inclusive icons from national institutions.| Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients

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