Prominent civic leaders in San Diego gathered on Friday to express their strong opposition to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to rename the USNS Harvey Milk, an action that has incited significant backlash, particularly during Pride Month.
Among those present were Mayor Todd Gloria, other elected officials, and Nicole Murray Ramirez, a key figure in the San Diego LGBTQ community and the chairman of the city’s Human Relations Commission.
Mayor Gloria stated unequivocally, “As mayor of this great city, I want to make sure we’re crystal clear that San Diego objects strongly to renaming this ship. This is happening during Pride month. This is intentional, and this is disgraceful. It is cruel and it is mean.”
The announcement regarding the renaming of the vessel came on June 1, just days into Pride Month, triggering a swift response from political figures, particularly Democrats. California Senator Adam Schiff is reportedly seeking to prevent the Department of Defense from following through with the renaming.
At the press conference, various speakers emphasized that this renaming represents a broader attempt to erase the identities and contributions of the LGBTQ community.
Ramirez stated firmly, “We of the LGBTQ community will never be erased. We are indeed a resilient community, so read my lips: We are never going back into the closet.”
Having played a significant role in having the Navy ship named in Harvey Milk’s honor, Ramirez also spearheaded the initiative to name Harvey Milk Street in Hillcrest, the location of the San Diego LGBTQ Center.
For Bob Lehman, a Marine Corps veteran who faced a decade of service in silence due to his sexual orientation, the acknowledgment of Milk’s name on the ship was both emotional and transformative. Lehman is the founder of the San Diego chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights.
Harvey Milk, who served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1955, was discharged “other than honorably” after being questioned about his sexual orientation. He subsequently became an influential activist and was elected as a county supervisor in San Francisco, where he was assassinated in 1978.
Both political and community leaders stressed the importance of honoring Milk through the ship’s name, noting the positive impact it has had on individuals’ perceptions of the LGBTQ community. Former U.S. Representative Susan Davis, who attended the ship’s christening in 2021, shared that many individuals continue to approach her, expressing how the honor bestowed upon Milk has significantly changed their lives.
The push for renaming the ship is said to align with the Trump administration’s intent to restore a so-called “warrior culture” in the military. Will Rodriguez-Kennedy, a civil service commissioner in San Diego County, criticized Hegseth’s perspective, asserting that it embodies “exclusion, not excellence.”
Ramirez further asserted the longstanding contributions of LGBTQ members in both community service and defense of the country, stating, “The blood that is spilled is not red, white and blue — it’s red. It’s not lavender. They’re all heroes and this is an insult and so disrespectful to one of our heroes.”
State Assemblymember Chris Ward condemned the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks against the LGBTQ community, emphasizing the need to address pressing national security issues rather than pursuing hurtful initiatives like this renaming.
Ward remarked, “I particularly call the Trump administration to reverse course on all of these hurtful initiatives because this proposed renaming today is a slap in the face to those of us in the San Diego community and in the LGBTQ community here in California.”
Speakers at the event conveyed their frustrations with Trump’s administration, particularly regarding its stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Ramirez concluded the press conference by encouraging the community to remain vigilant and resolute.
“They must know we’re not only not going anywhere, we are here to stay and to fight back,” he declared.
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