Fact Check: The U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk was the first Navy ship named for an openly gay person.
What We Know
The U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk was indeed the first Navy ship named after an openly gay individual. The ship was christened on November 6, 2021, and was named in honor of Harvey Milk, a Navy veteran and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. Milk served in the Navy during the Korean War and later became a prominent civil rights leader before his assassination in 1978 (source-1, source-2). The ship was part of the John Lewis-class oilers, which were named to honor leaders in civil rights activism (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk was the first Navy ship named for an openly gay person is supported by multiple credible sources. The ship's christening was a significant event, marking a milestone in the recognition of LGBTQ+ individuals in military history (source-1, source-3).
However, it is important to note that the ship was later renamed the U.S.N.S. Oscar V. Peterson in June 2025, as part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to remove names associated with what they termed "woke" ideology from military vessels (source-2, source-4). This renaming process has been criticized by various advocacy groups and individuals who view it as a step backward for LGBTQ+ representation in the military (source-5).
The sources used in this analysis are reliable and come from established news organizations such as The New York Times, NPR, and ABC News, which are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards.
Conclusion
The claim that the U.S.N.S. Harvey Milk was the first Navy ship named for an openly gay person is True. The ship was indeed named after Harvey Milk and represented a significant acknowledgment of LGBTQ+ contributions to the military. Despite its renaming in 2025, the historical fact remains that it was the first of its kind.
