| Published June 4, 2025
The U.S. Navy has been directed to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, a ship named after the pioneering gay rights activist and Navy veteran, during LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the order to align with the current administration’s focus on reinstating a “warrior culture” within the military. The renaming is set to be announced on June 13, 2025.
The decision has sparked criticism from various political figures, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who view the move as an erasure of civil rights legacies. The Navy is also reviewing other ships named after civil rights leaders, such as USNS Thurgood Marshall and USNS Ruth Bader Ginsburg, for potential renaming.
The USNS Harvey Milk was originally named in 2016 to honor Milk’s contributions to LGBTQ+ rights and his service in the Korean War. The renaming reflects a broader initiative to reassess military assets’ names and align them with the current administration’s values.
This development underscores ongoing debates over the intersection of military traditions, civil rights recognition, and political ideologies.
Here are the implications from conservative, neutral, and liberal perspectives regarding the Navy’s decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk and review other ships named after civil rights figures:
Conservative Perspective
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Restoring Military Focus: Emphasizes returning the military to its core mission of defense and combat readiness, rather than engaging in what some see as political or social activism.
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Unit Cohesion & Discipline: Believes that removing politically charged names can help unify service members around shared military values and avoid divisiveness.
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Pushback Against Identity Politics: Sees the renaming as a necessary step to push back against what conservatives view as overreach by “woke” culture in the armed forces.
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Support for Tradition: Views this as an opportunity to reaffirm traditional military heritage and values, which they believe are essential for effectiveness and morale.
Neutral Perspective
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Balancing History and Military Identity: Recognizes the need to honor historic figures while also maintaining a focus on military readiness and professionalism.
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Potential for Dialogue: Suggests this could open constructive discussions about how best to represent diverse histories without politicizing military assets.
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Risk of Polarization: Acknowledges the likelihood of controversy and political fallout from both sides, potentially impacting public perception of the military.
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Need for Clear Criteria: Advocates for transparent standards on naming that balance respect for history with current military priorities.
Liberal Perspective
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Erasing Civil Rights Progress: Views the renaming as a symbolic erasure of LGBTQ+ achievements and civil rights legacies within the military.
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Undermining Inclusivity: Concerned that this move signals a step backward from efforts to make the military a more inclusive and diverse institution.
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Political Motivations: Believes the decision is driven by conservative political agendas that reject social progress and minority recognition.
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Impact on Morale and Recruitment: Worries that this could discourage LGBTQ+ service members and allies, harming morale and recruitment efforts focused on diversity.
Overall Takeaway:
The renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk illustrates the ongoing clash between honoring social progress and preserving a traditional military identity. While conservatives view the move as a necessary return to core military values and unity, liberals see it as a setback for inclusivity and civil rights recognition. Neutral observers recognize the complexity, emphasizing the need to carefully balance respect for historic legacies with maintaining military effectiveness. This decision underscores the broader cultural and political debates shaping the future identity of the U.S. armed forces.
Conclusion:
The decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk reflects deep divisions over the role of politics and identity in the military. As the armed forces navigate between honoring civil rights pioneers and reinforcing traditional warrior values, this move highlights the challenges of balancing heritage, inclusion, and mission focus in a politically charged environment. The outcome will likely influence how the military defines its culture and values in the years ahead.
SOURCES: THE WESTERN JOURNAL – LGBT Crowd Handed Major Defeat as Navy Is Ordered to Strip Name of Gay Rights Activist from Ship
AP NEWS – Hegseth orders the name of gay rights activist Harvey Milk scrubbed from Navy ship
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE – Trump reportedly to strip Harvey Milk name off naval vessel
