A U.S. Navy oil tanker named after civil rights leaderHarvey Milk is reportedly set to be given a new title– another apparent move to strip military diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives underDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth. U.S. officialsconfirmed to Reuterson June 3 that the USNS Harvey Milk, which was christened in 2021, will be renamed. An official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that the directive came from Hegseth's office. In a statement to USA TODAY, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said 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," the statement said. The Navy did not immediately respond to request for comment. Here's what to know about Milk and the Navy vessel named after him. USNS Harvey MilkNavy to strip gay rights activist Harvey Milk's name from oil tanker Harvey Milk became one of the nation's first openly gay elected officials when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. Born on May 22, 1930, Milk enlisted in the Navy in 1951. He resigned four years later after being officially questioned about his sexuality, according to theHarvey Milk Foundation. Milk moved to San Francisco in 1972, where he eventually became involved in politics. After several failed candidacies for roles in local office, Mayor George Moscone appointed Milk to the city's Board of Permit Appeals, making him the first openly gay city commissioner in the United States, according to the Milk Foundation. A year after Milk won election to the city's board of supervisors, he and Moscone were assassinated by a disgruntled former city supervisor. Milk was posthumously recognized for his work advocating for the LGBTQ+ community. A statue of Milk sits in San Francisco City Hall's rotunda, and a terminal in the city's airport is also named after him. In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded him the Medal of Freedom. In 2016, the Navyannouncedit would be naming a tanker after Milk as part of the John Lewis class of oilers, named after the late Georgia congressman. The U.S. Naval Ship Harvey Milk, which is identified by hull No. T-AO 206, waschristened in 2021. After successfully completing acceptance trials, the ship wasdelivered to the Navy in 2023. It's unclear when the tanker will be officially renamed. A U.S. official told Reuters it would not be surprising if additional ships in the John Lewis class were renamed, since others also honor civil rights leaders. Stuart Milk, Harvey Milk's nephew and the executive chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation, said in astatementon social media that the organization is "heartbroken" to hear of the possible renaming. "His legacy has stood as a proud and bright light for the men and women who serve in our nation's military – including those who have served on the USNS Harvey Milk – and a reminder that no barriers of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or physical infirmity will restrain their human spirit," the statement said. The potential renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk would mark the Defense Department's latest move to cut diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the military. Hegseth nixed identity month celebrations, such as Black History Month and Pride Month, at the Defense Department. In March, the department pulled down and then scrambled to restore websites on military achievements by veterans such asJackie Robinsonand information on theNavajo Code Talkers. DEI explained:What is DEI and why is it so divisive? What you need to know. At military schools around the world, the department has alsopulled books from shelves,barred coursesanddefunded student clubs. President Donald Trumphas also vocally pushed to abolishdiversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached atmelina.khan@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What to know about Harvey Milk amid possible Navy ship renaming
