US defense minister Tildt Harvey Milk: A blow against diversity!

US defense minister Tildt Harvey Milk: A blow against diversity!

In the course of a controversial decision, the US government plans to remove the name of the gay civil rights activist and war veteran Harvey Milk from a naval ship. Defense Minister Pete Hegseth has instructed the US Navy to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, and it is expected that the ship will still get a new name in June. This step falls into the "Pride Month", which is usually dedicated to the visibility of queer people, and is understood by many as a return to a militaristic culture.

In an internal memo, Hegseth defended this measure as part of the goals of President Donald Trump and the Trump government, who want to end initiatives to promote diversity, equality and Integration. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell explained that the names should reflect the "history of our nation and ethos of the warrior". This is in accordance with the intention of realizing the military tradition.

criticism of the renaming

The decision to remove Milk’s name has triggered violent criticism. Nancy Pelosi, former spokeswoman for the House of Representatives, described the measure as a "malicious step". California governor Gavin Newsom emphasized that Milk was a war veteran of the Korean War that was released from military service because of his homosexuality. Milk is considered one of the first open gay people who were elected to a public office. He served in the navy for four years before being released due to his sexual orientation.

MILK was a formative representative of the gay law movement and actively campaigned against discrimination. He supported a draft law that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation in San Francisco. This was adopted and signed by Mayor George Moscone, also a supporter of Milk. Tragically both were murdered by Dan White in 1978.

historical context and legacy

The history of homosexuality in the United States has been shaped by persecution, discrimination and social ostracism until the 20th century. Social perception changed from the stylized idea of homosexuality as a "sin" to the increasing acceptance of sexual diversity. Harvey Milk played an important role in this development and is now seen as America's icon for the LGBTQ movement. The renaming of the ship is viewed by many as a step that does not meet this historical achievement.

The USNS Harvey Milk was put into service in 2021 to honor the background and inheritance of leading representatives of civil rights. The ongoing debate about the renaming confronts society with the questions of identity, history and commemoration. In a current step, the bid administration successfully renamed two navy ships in 2023 to refrain from confederated names.

The continuing discussions about the equality and rights of LGBTQ people show how deep the social ditches in the United States are still and how important it is to hear the voice of the past.