Ship should continue to carry name of gay rights icon Milk

Petty. Vindictive. Mean. Childish.

These are the kind words I have for Trump and his proposal to take gay rights activist Harvey Milk’s name off of a naval ship.

The USNS Harvey Milk being christened in 2021. (Image: Sarah Burford)

And to think that he is making this headline in June—Pride Month. Trump did this purposefully.

Milk served in the Navy for four years during the Korean War before being kicked out because of his sexual orientation. He was a lieutenant when he was discharged.

USNS Harvey Milk was christened and launched in November 2021.

“In 2016, then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus decided that six new oilers scheduled to be built would be named after civil and human rights leaders. In addition to Milk, they include Sojourner Truth, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, suffragist Lucy Stone and Rep. John Lewis of Georgia,” the Associated Press reported.

Renaming of ships is rare. Military.com first reported the news about the renaming.

A new name has not been revealed.

Trump and his cronies have a long history of discriminating against those in the LGBTQ community.

Trump is the disgrace, not Milk.