Documents obtained by CBS News and shared with the BBC indicate that the US Navy plans to remove the name of gay rights icon and Navy veteran Harvey Milk from one of its vessels, the USNS Harvey Milk. The move is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to rollback diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across the federal government, including the military.
Pride Month Timing Raises Concern
The planned announcement coincides with Pride Month (June), a significant period for the LGBTQ+ community that commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Riots, often viewed as the birth of the modern gay rights movement. The timing has intensified criticism from civil rights advocates and political leaders.
Pentagon’s Justification
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told CBS that the name change aligns with the administration’s goal of “re-establishing the warrior culture” in the armed forces. The new directive was reportedly initiated under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who earlier this year banned official military participation in events linked to identity-based commemorations such as:
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Pride Month
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Black History Month
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Women’s History Month
Other Ships Under Review
The internal memo also recommends the renaming of other vessels honoring progressive or civil rights icons, including:
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USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg (named after the late Supreme Court Justice)
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USNS Harriet Tubman (named after the renowned abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor)
Background on Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk was a former Navy officer and became the first openly gay elected official in California when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assassinated less than a year into his term. His legacy has since become symbolic of the broader fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S.
Political Reaction
The proposal has drawn strong condemnation from Democratic leaders:
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Nancy Pelosi called it a “vindictive erasure” of progress toward equality.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Defense Secretary Hegseth “should be ashamed of himself” and urged him to reverse the decision immediately.
Broader Political Context
This move fits within a wider push by the Trump administration to dismantle DEI-related policies:
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An executive order issued earlier this year banned DEI training and policies in federal agencies.
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A separate order formally recognized only two genders—male and female—as a matter of federal policy.
Critics argue these changes are regressive and exclude marginalized groups. Supporters claim they are restoring fairness and cohesion by removing what they view as divisive identity politics.
Conclusion
The US Navy’s planned removal of Harvey Milk’s name from a ship marks a controversial shift in how the military honors individuals who have contributed to American civil rights and representation. While supporters claim the move is about restoring traditional military values, opponents view it as an erasure of hard-won progress in diversity and inclusion.
This issue is likely to remain at the center of political and cultural debate throughout Pride Month and beyond.
