Pentagon chief orders US navy to rename ship honoring gay rights activist

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) – US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to strip the name of gay rights activist and navy veteran Harvey Milk from an oil tanker, local media reported Tuesday.

The order to rename the USNS Harvey Milk comes as LGBTQ+ communities kick off pride month celebrations across the US.

Milk, who served in the US navy during the Korean War, became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He was assassinated in 1978 by Dan White, a disgruntled fellow city supervisor.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said erasing Harvey Milk’s name was "disgusting, blatant discrimination."

"He served the U.S. Navy and his country honorably, and he was assassinated while serving the public and fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Hegseth should be ashamed of himself and reverse this immediately," Schumer said on X.

President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders meant to reshape the military. One executive order is meant to remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, while another is set to eliminate "gender radicalism in the military."