1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The decision to remove Harvey Milk's name from the USNS Harvey Milk, a naval vessel named to honor the pioneering LGBTQ rights activist and Navy veteran, is deeply concerning. Milk's legacy as one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States and his tireless advocacy for equality and justice should be celebrated, not erased. Stripping his name from this ship is an affront to the LGBTQ community and undermines the significant contributions of LGBTQ individuals to our nation's history and military service. Harvey Milk served honorably in the Navy during the Korean War, and his subsequent activism paved the way for greater acceptance and inclusion within American society. Renaming this vessel sends a harmful message of intolerance and disrespect towards the LGBTQ community, directly contradicting the values of diversity and equality that our nation claims to uphold. I urge you to reconsider this decision and reinstate the name USNS Harvey Milk to honor Milk's groundbreaking legacy and the sacrifices made by LGBTQ service members throughout our nation's history. Allowing this ship to bear Milk's name would be a powerful symbol of our commitment to fostering an inclusive and accepting society for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.