Ship named in honor of Harvey Milk by the U.S. Secretary of Navy

USNS Harvey Milk to remind us that together we can create a world that embraces our human diversity

Sacramento, Calif. (August 10, 2016) – The Harvey Milk Foundation announced today that a ship naming ceremony in honor of Harvey Milk by the US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus will take place at Treasure Island in the San Francisco Bay Area, Aug. 16.  

Secretary Mabus will announce during the ceremony that the second ship of the next generation of fleet replenishment oilers (T-AO 206) will be named USNS Harvey Milk after the civil and human rights leader who became one of the first openly LGBT elected officials in the U.S. when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

"Uncle Harvey knew that our individual actions of open authenticity would be the key to changing the lives of LGBT people everywhere. And it was his belief in the power of that visibility which gave him the courage to face those bullets that he both anticipated and would ultimately take his life," said Stuart Milk, nephew of Harvey Milk and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation.

"As a proud Navy veteran, Uncle Harvey was committed to public service, aided by courage, persistence, and the belief that our shared journey is enriched, and not weakened, by our diversity."

The USNS Harvey Milk will be one of six total ships in the class which will all be named after civil and human rights leaders. The first fleet replenishment oiler (T-AO 205) in the series will be named USNS John Lewis after the civil rights movement leader and current U.S. representative of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District.

"I am honored to be attending the naming ceremony of the first US Navy Ship named for an LGBT rights leader and LGBT Navy veteran," said Nancy G. Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen, Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary and member of the Harvey Milk Foundation's leadership and advisory board.

"All the men and women regardless of their sexual orientation, race, color, religion or background who will serve aboard the USNS Harvey Milk will all have the same mission and that is to keep America safe, sound and secure. And, in doing so they will represent and uphold our most precious constitutional principle: Equal Protection."

"The USNS Harvey Milk will inspire our nation's brave service men and women to reach their full potential proudly and unmasked. It will serve as a reminder, at every "port of call" the USNS Harvey Milk enters across the world, that together we can create a world that embraces our human diversity," Milk added.

Copyright 2016 The Gayly - 8/10/2016 @ 4:54 p.m. CDT