Bay Area LGBTQ+ community reacts to Pete Hegseth's order for Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk
"This one hurts"
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy on Tuesay to remove the name of gay rights activist and late San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk from one of its ships.
This announcement was part of an internal memo. The Pentagon's chief spokesperson later confirming that any potential renaming's "will be announced after internal reviews are complete."
After nine years as the USNS Harvey Milk, the US Navy has received orders to remove the gay rights activist name from the ship, a blow for the LGBTQ+ community.
"Harvey Milk was a hero. He was a veteran who then died for our community, and we are all so proud of him. For years, LGBTQ+ veterans worked towards this renaming, and it was such a moment of pride and joy for our community," said Senator Scott Wiener.
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Milk served four years in the Navy before he was forced out for being gay. After that in 1977, Milk made history becoming one of the first openly gay man elected to public office. 11 months after he was sworn in as a San Francisco supervisor he was killed by another supervisor.
Cleve Jones was a close friend and aide of Harvey Milk.
"To think that at this point in time that our defense department, that our military leadership is focusing on erasing the contributions of civil rights leaders really? This makes no sense whatsoever," said Jones.
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Jones believes the removal of Milk's name from the ship is a distraction by the Trump administration.
"Harvey would shrug it off. He had thick skin; I've got thick skin. We have come to expect the worse from this administration and they consistently deliver," said Jones and added, "China is flexing its muscles against Taiwan. I'm seeing the conflict between two nuclear arm states India and Pakistan and I'm seeing the ongoing Russia war against Ukraine and their extraordinary response in recent days. It seems to me that there is an awful lot going on in the world and it's quite telling what this administration choses to focus on. I think the priorities are bit off."
Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning was at the christening of the ship in 2021.
"I was privileged to go down to San Diego for the christening of the ship and I got to meet the incoming commander officer. He was just so excited to command the ship that would perpetuate Harvey's legacy. I'm angry, I'm sad, I'm in disbelief that the secretary of defense is doing this," said Dunning.
Dunning sees this name removal as an attack to the LGBTQ+ community.
"I think the purpose of this is to erase history. The purpose of this is to pretend we don't have transgender service men, we don't have gay service members, gay leaders in the military," said Dunning.
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The Pentagon's chief spokesman issued a statement saying in part that it: "is committed to ensuring that the names attached to all DOD installations and assets are reflective of the Commander-in-Chief's priorities, our nation's history, and the warrior ethos."
"We are fighting in many ways to protect the LGBTQ people from all of Donald Trump's attacks on HIV care and prevention, on trans people, on LGBTQ youth and just in so many ways he is trying to harm our community, and we are fighting him hard. This one hurts though," said Senator Wiener.
On Wednesday, Stuart Milk, the executive chair of Harvey Milk Foundation and nephew of Harvey Milk released the following statement:
"We are heartbroken to hear that there is a recommendation at the Pentagon to remove my uncle's name from the USNS Harvey Milk. I recently had the honor of spending three days and nights aboard the ship with the men and women who serve our country, and I was there as the ship replenished, while underway at sea, the Destroyer Squadron (DESRON2) accompanying the USS Gerald Ford in the Atlantic Ocean. The pride that all the men and women on those ships - gay, straight, Black, white, Hispanic, commissioned officers and enlisted personnel - all of them, without exception, expressed and relayed to me, was a testament to the American spirit of patriotism and respect for our nation's collective history of growth. Harvey Milk's legacy is certainly enhanced and celebrated by a US Naval Ship, however his legacy will not be silenced or diminished by the renaming of that Naval ship. Rather such an action would only serve to prove that Harvey Milk style hope will continue to endure and inspire across the globe, and that neither bullets nor name stripping can stop Harvey's overriding message to us all - when he prophetically anticipated making the ultimate sacrifice: "Let the bullets that enter my brain, destroy every closet door". "You gotta give 'em hope."
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi released the following statement:
"Harvey Milk proudly served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and was a formidable force for change - not just in California, but in our Country. While he is remembered for his LGBTQ+ advocacy, Harvey fought for the dignity and worth of every person. In San Francisco, we take great pride that our Harvey's name adorns a mighty ship among a new class of Navy vessels - named for the conscience of the Congress, John Lewis - which honor titans in the fight for freedom. The names of those who fought for civil rights and human rights bring luster to these ships - as their leadership brought luster to America.
"The reported decision by the Trump Administration to change the names of the USNS Harvey Milk and other ships in the John Lewis-class is a shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream. Our military is the most powerful in the world - but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the "warrior" ethos. Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.
"As the rest of us are celebrating the joy of Pride Month, it is my hope that the Navy will reconsider this egregious decision and continue to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Harvey Milk, a Veteran himself, and all Americans who forged historic progress for our nation."
A new name has not been announced.
