US Navy Introduces Ship Named After Gay Rights Activist Harvey Milk
Image via General Dynamics NASSCO
Apologizing for its past and hoping to inspire acceptance, the US Navy on Saturday unveiled the USNS Harvey Milk, launched and christened after the gay politician who was ousted from the Navy after four years of service.
Stuart Milk, president of the Harvey Milk Foundation and nephew of the gay rights leader, was at the opening ceremony as principal speaker, and observed the new fleet replenishment oiler as it sailed down the shipyard of San Diego Bay.
The USNS Harvey Milk is one of six oilers, designed by General Dynamics NASSCO as part of a US$2.3 billion contract, that are set to be named after civil and human rights trailblazers. It comes after this year’s launch of the John Lewis, and will be followed by vessels inspired by Sojourner Truth, Chief Justice Earl Warren, Robert F. Kennedy, and Lucy Stone, the Associated Press reports.
Image via General Dynamics NASSCO
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said the ceremony wasn’t just about making corrections, but also “to give inspiration to all of our LGBTQ community leaders who served in the Navy… and to tell them that we’re committed to them in the future.”
Regrettably, Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, was forced to “mask that very important part of his life” during his Navy service. He definitely wasn’t the first, and Del Toro acknowledged that many sailors like Milk “were forced into the shadows or, worse yet, forced out of our beloved Navy.”
“That injustice is part of our Navy history, but so is the perseverance of all who continue to serve in the face of injustice,” Del Toro added.
It was former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus who proposed that the ships be named after prominent names in human and civil rights activism. Del Toro told Mabus, who was present at the opening, that it was an admirable call since ship names represent the US Navy’s values and convey them to ports of call around the world.
Image via General Dynamics NASSCO
Stuart Milk also thanked Mabus for the decision, and detailed that although his uncle was done a disservice, there was a lesson in there. “We have to teach our history to prevent ourselves from going backwards and repeating it,” he noted.
Image via General Dynamics NASSCO
[via Associated Press, images via General Dynamics NASSCO]
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