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Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Who was Harvey Milk? Why did Pete Hegseth order the US Navy to 'scrub off' his name from a ship that honored him?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the US Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a highly rare move that comes amid Pride Month and has already drawn sharp criticism. As per the US officials, Navy Secretary John Phelan put together a small team to rename the replenishment John Lewis-class oiler, and a new name is expected this month. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the next name had not yet been chosen. What happened? A memo from the Secretary of the Navy's office outlined rollout plans for the name change, which is expected to be publicly announced on June 13 aboard the USS Constitution. The renaming is reportedly intended to 'align with the president and SECDEF objectives and SECNAV priorities of reestablishing the warrior culture,' referencing priorities held by President Donald Trump, Hegseth, and Phelan. However, no new name has yet been announced for the vessel. Who was Harvey Milk? Harvey Milk was a pioneering civil rights activist and the first openly gay elected official in California. Born in 1930 in Woodmere, New York, he served in the US Navy during the Korean War. After being discharged due to his sexual orientation, Milk moved to San Francisco in 1972, where he opened a camera shop on Castro Street, the heart of the city's LGBTQ+ community. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Los jubilados nacidos antes del 1970 tienen derecho a estos nuevos aparatos acústicos Top Audifonos Undo His shop became a gathering place for activists, and Milk quickly emerged as a charismatic leader advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. In 1973, Milk ran for a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors but was defeated. However, he continued his activism, co-founding the Castro Village Association and launching the inaugural Castro Street Fair in 1974. He also forged alliances with unions, notably supporting a boycott of Coors beer, which led to the company hiring more gay drivers. These efforts earned him the nickname "The Mayor of Castro Street. " In 1977, Milk was elected to the Board of Supervisors, becoming one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. During his brief time in office, he co-sponsored a groundbreaking ordinance that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, and public accommodations. He also led the successful campaign against Proposition 6, a 1978 ballot initiative that sought to ban gay teachers and their supporters from working in California schools. Tragically, in November 1978, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated in San Francisco City Hall by Dan White, a disgruntled former supervisor. Milk's death galvanized the LGBTQ+ community and led to widespread mourning and activism. In recognition of his contributions, Milk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. California declared his birthday, May 22, Harvey Milk Day, and numerous schools, streets, and public spaces have been named in his honor. Milk served as a diving officer in the Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1955. Despite his honorable service, he was discharged due to his sexual orientation, reflecting the discriminatory policies of the time. In 2016, the Navy announced plans to name a ship in his honor as part of a broader initiative to name vessels after civil rights icons. The ship, USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO-206), was officially named in a ceremony in San Francisco on August 16, 2016. This decision was part of the John Lewis class of ships, named after prominent figures in the civil rights movement, including John Lewis, Earl Warren, and Sojourner Truth. The naming aimed to recognize Milk's contributions to both the military and the LGBTQ+ community, symbolizing a commitment to diversity and inclusion within the armed forces. The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk: This month, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the renaming of the US Navy's replenishment oiler, the USNS Harvey Milk (T-AO 206). This decision was part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to "reestablish the warrior culture" within the military by removing names associated with diversity and inclusion efforts. The renaming was reportedly timed to coincide with Pride Month, a move that has sparked significant controversy. The USNS Harvey Milk was christened in 2021 to honor Milk's contributions to both the military and the LGBTQ+ community. It was the first US Navy ship named after an openly gay person. The renaming has been met with criticism from various political figures, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Senator Scott Wiener, who view the action as an erasure of civil rights history and a setback for LGBTQ+ recognition. Why is the decision being seen as controversial? The decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk not only undermines the Navy's commitment to diversity and inclusion, especially during Pride Month, but also reflects a broader trend of revising military history to exclude contributions from marginalized groups. In simpler words, the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk is seen as a symbolic act that diminishes the significance of LGBTQ+ representation in the military. The Donald Trump administration's stance on LGBTQ+ rights has been characterized by a series of policy decisions and actions that have been widely perceived as regressive by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations. From initiating several measures to dismantle protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, including healthcare, education, housing, and employment, to rolling back protections for transgender students in public schools – the Trump administration has done it all with a stroke of a pen. During his first term, President Trump even announced a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, citing concerns over military readiness and unit cohesion. Although this policy was challenged in court and faced legal hurdles, it represented a significant setback for transgender rights within the armed forces. Hegseth's order to rename the USNS Harvey Milk – that, too, during Pride Month – is being seen as a strong message in extension of the military service ban on the LGBTQ community, which indeed raises questions about the balance between honoring diverse contributions and adhering to traditional military ethos. US: Police held man naked while looking for teens
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk honoring gay rights activist
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
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hegseth Orders Renaming Of Navy Ship Honoring LGBTQ+ Icon Harvey Milk: Reports
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk honoring the slain LGBTQ+ rights icon and military veteran, according to reports. The timing of the name change, which was reported on the third day of Pride Month, was intentional, a person familiar with the plans told which was the first to report Hegseth's order. When reached for comment, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wouldn't confirm the name change but said Hegseth is focused on aligning military institutions with President Donald Trump's views. '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,' Parnell said. A memo obtained by shows that the name change is scheduled to be announced June 13 aboard the USS Constitution. Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. He served less than a year on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before being assassinated in 1978. Prior to his career in politics, Milk joined the Navy during the Korean War and served until 1955 when he was forcibly discharged because of his sexual orientation. The USNS Harvey Milk was named in his honor in 2016, while President Barack Obama was still in office. It was one of several ships named for civil rights icons that year. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who represents much of San Francisco in Congress, reacted to the reported name change, calling it 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,' she said in a statement. 'Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.' CBS News also reported Tuesday that the Navy is considering changing the names of ships honoring the late Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez, among other civil rights icons. Hegseth, Bedeviled By Leaks, Orders More Restrictions On Press At Pentagon China Knocks Hegseth's 'Cold War Mentality' After He Calls The Country A Threat Pete Hegseth's 'Incredibly Problematic' Pentagon Event Raises Serious Concerns
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hegseth Orders Renaming Of Navy Ship Honoring LGBTQ+ Icon Harvey Milk: Reports
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk honoring the slain LGBTQ+ rights icon and military veteran, according to reports. The timing of the name change, which was reported on the third day of Pride Month, was intentional, a person familiar with the plans told which was the first to report Hegseth's order. When reached for comment, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wouldn't confirm the name change but said Hegseth is focused on aligning military institutions with President Donald Trump's views. '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,' Parnell said. A memo obtained by shows that the name change is scheduled to be announced June 13 aboard the USS Constitution. Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. He served less than a year on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors before being assassinated in 1978. Prior to his career in politics, Milk joined the Navy during the Korean War and served until 1955 when he was forcibly discharged because of his sexual orientation. The USNS Harvey Milk was named in his honor in 2016, while President Barack Obama was still in office. It was one of several ships named for civil rights icons that year. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who represents much of San Francisco in Congress, reacted to the reported name change, calling it 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,' she said in a statement. 'Instead, it is a surrender of a fundamental American value: to honor the legacy of those who worked to build a better country.' CBS News also reported Tuesday that the Navy is considering changing the names of ships honoring the late Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez, among other civil rights icons. Hegseth, Bedeviled By Leaks, Orders More Restrictions On Press At Pentagon China Knocks Hegseth's 'Cold War Mentality' After He Calls The Country A Threat Pete Hegseth's 'Incredibly Problematic' Pentagon Event Raises Serious Concerns
UPI
6 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."
