Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Orders Rare Renaming of Military Vessel

In a decision that has outraged LGBTQ+ advocates and allies, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the U.S. Navy to remove the name of Harvey Milk, a trailblazing gay rights icon, from a Navy replenishment ship, an action widely viewed as an attack on LGBTQ+ visibility and history within the armed forces.

The directive, confirmed by officials and detailed in a Navy memorandum obtained by Military.com, marks a rare reversal in ship naming and comes during Pride Month, a time traditionally set aside to honor LGBTQ+ struggles and progress. The decision is being implemented by Navy Secretary John Phelan, under orders from Hegseth.

In a post, the Department of Veterans Affairs praised Milk, saying, “Navy Veteran Ha

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