Latest news with #JohnLewis-class
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who was Harvey Milk? Late SF gay rights icon at center of ship renaming controversy
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The controversy over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordering the renaming of a Navy vessel has thrust the name of the late Harvey Milk back into the national limelight. Milk, a gay rights icon, is the namesake of the U.S. Navy replenishment oiler the USNS Harvey Milk. The vessel is a John Lewis-class replenishment ship that was named in 2016 by then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who said all John-Lewis class oilers would be named for leaders who fought for civil and human rights. DA will seek death penalty at Half Moon Bay mass shooting trial Born in Woodmere, New York in 1930, Milk was a naval and combat veteran who served for years during the Korean War before being forced out for being gay. Milk made history in 1978 when he was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, becoming one of the first openly gay men elected to public office in California, and the nation. During his brief tenure in office, Milk championed the rights of the gay community and sponsored a bill to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. That bill was signed into law by then-Mayor George Moscone. Milk, however, would serve less than a year in office before meeting with a tragic end. On Nov. 27, 1978, Milk and Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco City Hall by former supervisor Dan White. Milk was 48 years old at the time of the killings. White served just five years in prison for the killings. His attorneys employed a legal defense known a diminished capacity and argued that his mental deterioration was exacerbated by a junk food binge. Bay Area newspapers dubbed this argument the 'Twinkie defense.' White died by suicide in 1985. In the years and decades since his killing, Milk rose to the status of gay rights icon. In San Francisco's Castro District where Milk rose to political prominence as the self-proclaimed 'Mayor of Castro Street,' there is a plaza named after him. In 2018, Terminal 1 at San Francisco International Airport was renamed Harvey Milk Terminal 1. A bust of Milk can be found in San Francisco City Hall. In 2009, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Milk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was also the subject of the 2008 Gus Van Sant film 'Milk,' which starred Sean Penn in the title role, and won two Oscars — Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. The USNS Harvey Milk was named in 2016 and launched in 2021. The unusual order to rename the vessel marks the latest move by Hegseth and the wider Trump administration to purge all programs, policies, books and social media mentions of references to diversity, equity and inclusion. And it comes during Pride Month — the same timing as the Pentagon's campaign to force transgender troops out of the U.S. military. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
USNS Harvey Milk renaming: Who was Harvey Milk and why does the US Navy want a new name?
Why Now? Live Events Who Was Harvey Milk? A Ship Named for Equality Why the Renaming Is Controversial What Happens Next? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a highly controversial move, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk—a decision that comes during Pride Month and is already drawing fierce to U.S. officials, Navy Secretary John Phelan has formed a small team tasked with selecting a new name for the John Lewis-class replenishment oiler. While no replacement name has been confirmed, an official announcement is expected on June 13 aboard the historic USS Constitution.A memo from the Secretary of the Navy's office outlines that the renaming is part of a broader effort to 'reestablish the warrior culture' within the military. The directive aligns with the priorities of President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Hegseth, and Navy Secretary Phelan—signaling a departure from past efforts to honor civil rights leaders through military naming have pointed to the timing—during Pride Month—as a symbolic rollback of the military's recognition of LGBTQ+ Milk was a groundbreaking civil rights leader and the first openly gay elected official in California. Born in 1930 in Woodmere, New York, Milk served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Despite his honorable service, he was discharged due to his sexual orientation, reflecting the era's discriminatory moving to San Francisco in 1972, Milk became a central figure in the city's LGBTQ+ movement. He was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, becoming one of the first openly gay officials in U.S. history. Milk co-sponsored pioneering legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and led the successful fight against Proposition 6, which aimed to bar gay individuals from teaching in public was tragically assassinated in 1978 alongside Mayor George Moscone. His legacy has since been celebrated nationwide: he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 2009, and California observes May 22 as Harvey Milk 2016, the U.S. Navy announced it would honor Milk by naming a ship after him—the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206). Part of the John Lewis class of ships named after civil rights icons, the decision aimed to acknowledge Milk's legacy and promote inclusivity within the armed forces. The vessel was christened in 2021 and became the first Navy ship named after an openly gay decision to strip the ship of Milk's name has sparked widespread criticism. Political leaders such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Senator Scott Wiener have condemned the move as an erasure of LGBTQ+ history and a regressive step for civil view the renaming as emblematic of broader efforts under the Trump administration to roll back LGBTQ+ rights. From banning transgender individuals from serving in the military to reversing protections in healthcare, housing, and education, the administration has faced repeated criticism from advocacy groups for targeting marginalized and LGBTQ+ organizations argue that the Navy's decision sends a chilling message—particularly during a month meant to celebrate inclusion and equality. By removing Milk's name from the ship, critics say the Pentagon is prioritizing ideology over historical recognition and symbolic of now, the Navy has not released the new name for the vessel. The final decision is expected to be announced in mid-June. Until then, the debate surrounding the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk continues to reflect the broader cultural and political divide over how the military honors its past—and who it chooses to remember.
USA Today
a day ago
- General
- USA Today
Who was Harvey Milk? Navy vessel may be stripped of gay rights leader's name
Hear this story A U.S. Navy oil tanker named after civil rights leader Harvey Milk is reportedly set to be given a new title — another apparent move to strip military diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters on June 3 that the USNS Harvey Milk, which was christened in 2021, will be renamed. An official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that the directive came from Hegseth's office. In a statement to USA TODAY, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Hegseth "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." "Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete," the statement said. The Navy did not immediately respond to request for comment. Here's what to know about Milk and the Navy vessel named after him. USNS Harvey Milk Navy to strip gay rights activist Harvey Milk's name from oil tanker Who was Harvey Milk? Harvey Milk became one of the nation's first openly gay elected officials when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Born on May 22, 1930, Milk enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He resigned four years later after being officially questioned about his sexuality, according to the Harvey Milk Foundation. Milk moved to San Francisco in 1972, where he eventually became involved in politics. After several failed candidacies for roles in local office, Mayor George Moscone appointed Milk to the city's Board of Permit Appeals, making him the first openly gay city commissioner in the United States, according to the Milk Foundation. A year after Milk won election to the city's Board of Supervisors, he and Moscone were assassinated by a disgruntled former city Supervisor. Milk was posthumously recognized for his work advocating for the LGBTQ community. A statue of Milk sits in San Francisco City Hall's rotunda, and a terminal in the city's airport is also named after him. In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded him the Medal of Freedom. What is the USNS Harvey Milk? Navy ship is named after gay rights leader In 2016, the Navy announced it would be naming a tanker after Milk as part of the John Lewis-class of oilers — which is named after late congressman Rep. John Lewis. The USNS Harvey Milk, which is identified by hull No. T-AO 206, was christened in 2021. After successfully completing acceptance trails, the ship was delivered to the Navy in 2023. It's unclear when the tanker will be officially renamed. A U.S. official told Reuters it would not be surprising if additional ships in the John Lewis class were renamed, since others also honor civil rights leaders. Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's nephew and the executive chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation, said in a statement on social media that the organization is "heartbroken" to hear of the possible renaming. "His legacy has stood as a proud and bright light for the men and women who serve in our nation's military - including those who have served on the USNS Harvey Milk - and a reminder that no barriers of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or physical infirmity will restrain their human spirit," the statement said. Defense Department pushes to cut diversity, equity, inclusion programs The potential renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk would mark the Defense Department's latest move to cut diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the military. Hegseth nixed identity month celebrations at the Defense Department, like Black History Month and Pride Month. In March, the department pulled down then scrambled to restore websites on military achievements by veterans like Jackie Robinson to information on the Navajo Code Talkers. At military schools around the world, the department has also pulled books from shelves, barred courses and defunded student clubs. President Donald Trump has also vocally pushed to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at
UPI
2 days ago
- General
- UPI
Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk honoring gay rights activist
1 of 2 | The John Lewis-class replenishment oiler USNS Harvey Milk conducts a replenishment at sea on December 13, 2024. On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the U.S. Navy to rename the ship, honoring gay rights activist Harvey Milk, in order to reestablish "the warrior culture." File Photo from U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky June 3 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the U.S. Navy to rename one of its ships, honoring the late gay rights activist Harvey Milk, as Pride month gets underway. The Office of the Secretary of the Navy was instructed to rename the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk, according to a memorandum reviewed by and confirmed by ABC News and CBS News. A defense official confirmed the timing of the announcement during Pride month was intentional. According to the memo, the reason for renaming the ship is to provide "alignment with president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture." While a new name for the ship was not revealed, Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan are expected to announce the ship's new moniker aboard the Navy's oldest commissioned ship, the USS Constitution, on June 13, according to the memo. The USNS Harvey Milk was the first Navy ship to be named after an openly gay person. The ship is a John Lewis-class oiler, a group of ships named after prominent civil rights leaders. It was officially named in 2016 at a ceremony in San Francisco, before it was built, and was launched from San Diego Bay in November 2021. Milk served as a lieutenant in the Navy during the Korean War. He received an other-than-honorable discharge and resigned, instead of facing a court martial over his homosexuality. Milk became the first openly gay person in the country to be elected to public office when he won a San Francisco supervisor seat in 1977. Milk and Mayor George Moscone were both assassinated a year later. Milk became a San Francisco and LGBTQ icon, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. The renaming of USNS Harvey Milk would not be the first time the Navy has renamed a ship. In 2023, a Congressionally mandated commission changed the names of two vessels as they removed Confederate ties throughout the military. The USS Chancellorsville was changed to USS Robert Smalls and the research ship USNS Maury became USNS Marie Tharp. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Tuesday that changes were underway for several other ships. "Secretary Hegseth 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," Parnell said in a statement. "Any potential renaming will be announced after internal reviews are complete." Among those ships being considered for renaming are the USNS Thurgood Marshall, USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, USNS Harriet Tubman and USNS Cesar Chavez, according to CBS News. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the decision to rename the ships "shameful." "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," Pelosi wrote Tuesday in a post on X. "Our military is the most powerful in the world -- but this spiteful move does not strengthen our national security or the 'warrior' ethos," she added. "Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hegseth directs Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk days into Pride Month
A Navy supply ship named for former Navy officer and 1970s civil rights icon Harvey Milk may soon be stripped of its name at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a defense official confirmed to Task & Purpose. A plan to strip the USNS Harvey Milk of its name was first reported by Additional plans to erase the names of other key civil rights figures from the Milk's sister ships are also under consideration, though not imminent, the official confirmed to Task & Purpose. Those plans were first reported by CBS News. A plan to announce the renaming of the Milk, one of the best-known gay activists in U.S. history, was set for mid-June, which is widely celebrated as 'Pride Month.' The decision to announce the name change during Pride Month was intentional, the defense official said. Milk is one of five USNS John Lewis-class replenishment oilers, all of which are named for civil rights icons. The ships reported to be under consideration for name changes beyond the Milk are Lewis-class ships named for Thurgood Marshall, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Harriet Tubman, and four other civil rights figures. Some of those ships have, in Navy tradition, been named but not yet completed or launched. Navy ships formally receive their names from — and in rare cases, have been renamed by — the Secretary of the Navy, a legal requirement which would be the case with the Milk, according to the defense official and reporting by the two organizations. But the decision to strike the name of Milk, a former Navy lieutenant junior grade, gay activist, and elected official in the 1970s, originated with Hegseth, according to the defense official and reporting on the change. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the decision a 'shameful, vindictive erasure of those who fought to break down barriers for all to chase the American Dream.' Several hours after the first reports of the renaming plan, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell released a statement that did not address the USNS Milk, but said that one or more ships could be renamed after 'internal reviews.' 'Secretary Hegseth 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. Any potential renaming(s) will be announced after internal reviews are complete.' Milk was a Navy officer before entering politics as a gay activist in the 1960s and 70s. He led fights against housing discrimination in San Francisco and was elected to the city board of supervisors in 1977 as the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California. He was killed in 1978 when another member of the board shot and killed the mayor over a long-running political dispute and then killed Milk. Navy SEAL Team 6 operator will be the military's new top enlisted leader Veterans receiving disability payments might have been underpaid, IG finds Guam barracks conditions are 'baffling,' Navy admiral says in email Navy fires admiral in charge of unmanned systems office after investigation The Pentagon wants troops to change duty stations less often
