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In a stunning act of political hostility wrapped in military protocol, former Fox News host and Trump-aligned appointee Pete Hegseth is reportedly behind efforts to remove the name of Harvey Milk from the USNS Harvey Milk — a Navy supply ship that honors the trailblazing gay rights leader and veteran. The timing of this effort, unfolding during Pride Month, feels not only deliberate but deeply cruel.
Harvey Milk was far more than an activist. He was a United States Navy veteran who served honorably during both the Korean and Vietnam War eras. He rose to the rank of lieutenant junior grade and worked as a diving officer aboard the USS Kittiwake. Like many LGBTQ+ Americans of his time, he was forced to leave the service quietly due to discriminatory policies that criminalized his very identity. But rather than disappear, Milk went on to become one of the most iconic civil rights figures in America.
To name a ship after Harvey Milk was not just a tribute to him, but a recognition of the thousands of LGBTQ+ service members whose stories have too often been erased. It was a moment of justice, of visibility, and of healing. And now, under the influence of figures like Pete Hegseth and those loyal to Trump’s regressive political agenda, that justice is under attack.
Hegseth has a well-documented record of opposing LGBTQ+ inclusion, both in the military and society at large. His involvement in removing Milk’s name appears to be part of a broader attempt to sanitize the military of its recent, hard-won progress toward diversity and inclusion. To do this during Pride Month — a time when we honor LGBTQ+ history and resilience — makes the move feel not only calculated, but intentionally harmful.
This decision is not about military tradition or logistics. It’s about erasure. It’s about reasserting a narrow, exclusionary vision of America — one where LGBTQ+ people are denied their rightful place in history. It’s an insult to the memory of Harvey Milk, to LGBTQ+ veterans, and to every queer person currently serving in our armed forces.
And make no mistake — this is political. This is part of a pattern seen under the Trump administration, where symbols of progress are dismantled in the name of so-called “patriotism.” But patriotism is not blind obedience. True patriotism recognizes all who have sacrificed for this country, regardless of who they love or how they identify.
The USNS Harvey Milk was christened in 2021 with pride and purpose. Former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus championed the naming as a sign of a more inclusive and honest military. Now, this hard-won recognition is being stripped away by a conservative wave seeking to turn back the clock — not just on policy, but on visibility and dignity.
To remove Harvey Milk’s name is to say that LGBTQ+ people are unworthy of honor. It is to say that our contributions don’t count. And that message — whether whispered or shouted — is dangerous. It emboldens hate. It undermines morale. It tells queer Americans that no matter how bravely they serve, they will never truly be seen.
We cannot be silent. Pride is not just a celebration — it’s a protest. And in 2025, the fight for truth and visibility is far from over. We must defend our history, especially when it is being erased by those who fear it. Because honoring Harvey Milk is not just about remembering one man. It’s about remembering all of us.
To those in power: You can take names off ships, but you cannot take pride out of people.
We see you, Harvey. And we will not let them forget.
Harvey Milk was far more than an activist. He was a United States Navy veteran who served honorably during both the Korean and Vietnam War eras. He rose to the rank of lieutenant junior grade and worked as a diving officer aboard the USS Kittiwake. Like many LGBTQ+ Americans of his time, he was forced to leave the service quietly due to discriminatory policies that criminalized his very identity. But rather than disappear, Milk went on to become one of the most iconic civil rights figures in America.
To name a ship after Harvey Milk was not just a tribute to him, but a recognition of the thousands of LGBTQ+ service members whose stories have too often been erased. It was a moment of justice, of visibility, and of healing. And now, under the influence of figures like Pete Hegseth and those loyal to Trump’s regressive political agenda, that justice is under attack.
Hegseth has a well-documented record of opposing LGBTQ+ inclusion, both in the military and society at large. His involvement in removing Milk’s name appears to be part of a broader attempt to sanitize the military of its recent, hard-won progress toward diversity and inclusion. To do this during Pride Month — a time when we honor LGBTQ+ history and resilience — makes the move feel not only calculated, but intentionally harmful.
This decision is not about military tradition or logistics. It’s about erasure. It’s about reasserting a narrow, exclusionary vision of America — one where LGBTQ+ people are denied their rightful place in history. It’s an insult to the memory of Harvey Milk, to LGBTQ+ veterans, and to every queer person currently serving in our armed forces.
And make no mistake — this is political. This is part of a pattern seen under the Trump administration, where symbols of progress are dismantled in the name of so-called “patriotism.” But patriotism is not blind obedience. True patriotism recognizes all who have sacrificed for this country, regardless of who they love or how they identify.
The USNS Harvey Milk was christened in 2021 with pride and purpose. Former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus championed the naming as a sign of a more inclusive and honest military. Now, this hard-won recognition is being stripped away by a conservative wave seeking to turn back the clock — not just on policy, but on visibility and dignity.
To remove Harvey Milk’s name is to say that LGBTQ+ people are unworthy of honor. It is to say that our contributions don’t count. And that message — whether whispered or shouted — is dangerous. It emboldens hate. It undermines morale. It tells queer Americans that no matter how bravely they serve, they will never truly be seen.
We cannot be silent. Pride is not just a celebration — it’s a protest. And in 2025, the fight for truth and visibility is far from over. We must defend our history, especially when it is being erased by those who fear it. Because honoring Harvey Milk is not just about remembering one man. It’s about remembering all of us.
To those in power: You can take names off ships, but you cannot take pride out of people.
We see you, Harvey. And we will not let them forget.
