Council Denounces Renaming of Navy Ships

The Council passed a resolution denouncing the renaming of Navy ships, including the USNS Harvey Milk, which honors gay rights activist Harvey Milk. Milk served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and fought for LGBTQ+ rights before his military service. Councilors expressed concern over the renaming's timing, coinciding with Pride Month and following controversial military policies targeting transgender service members. The resolution emphasizes that renaming these vessels erases the hard-won representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the military. Other ships under consideration for renaming include those named after prominent civil rights figures like Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The Council's resolution calls for the White House to reverse the renaming decision, highlighting the importance of these names in reflecting values of equality and inclusion. This stance underscores a broader commitment to defending the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and veterans. The renaming debate illustrates ongoing struggles for representation and recognition within the armed forces.