Harvey Milk, often celebrated as a gay rights icon, had a darker side that raises serious questions about his legacy and the appropriateness of honoring him with a Navy ship. Milk, who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States as a San Francisco supervisor in 1977, was known to engage in relationships with significantly younger men, some of whom were vulnerable and underage. Notably, his relationship with Jack Galen McKinley, a 16-year-old runaway, has been cited as evidence of predatory behavior. McKinley, who later died by suicide, was one of several young men Milk took under his wing, exploiting their instability for personal gratification. Such actions, which would be condemned as grooming today, reveal a troubling pattern of moral depravity that undermines the heroic narrative surrounding Milk. His defenders argue these relationships were consensual and reflective of the era’s looser cultural norms, but critics contend that Milk’s position of influence and the age disparities involved point to an abuse of power, casting a shadow over his public achievements.
 
The assassination of Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone on November 27, 1978, by former supervisor Dan White was a tragic and complex event rooted in personal and political grievances. White, a conservative who clashed with Milk over issues like the anti-discrimination ordinance Milk championed, resigned from the Board of Supervisors citing financial strain. When Moscone refused to reappoint him, White blamed Milk for lobbying against his reinstatement, though evidence suggests Milk’s influence was minimal. White’s act of sneaking into City Hall through a basement window and shooting both men was driven by a mix of resentment, mental instability, and opposition to the progressive policies Milk and Moscone represented, including their push against police brutality and for gay rights. The infamous “Twinkie defense” at White’s trial, which attributed his actions to diminished capacity from junk food consumption, led to a lenient manslaughter conviction, sparking the White Night Riots. While Milk’s death cemented his martyr status, it also obscured the contentious aspects of his personal conduct, which critics argue should disqualify him from veneration.
 
The decision by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to rename the USNS Harvey Milk in June 2025 reflects a broader push to align military honors with a “warrior ethos” and address concerns about Milk’s controversial past. Milk’s Navy service during the Korean War ended with an “other than honorable” discharge in 1955 due to his engagement in homosexual acts, a fact that complicates his portrayal as a military hero. Hegseth’s order, timed intentionally during Pride Month, has drawn criticism from figures like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, who call it a “vindictive erasure” of LGBTQ+ contributions. However, supporters argue that naming a ship after Milk, given his predatory relationships and dishonorable discharge, sends the wrong message about military values. Posts on X have amplified these sentiments, with some users labeling Milk a “pedophile” and pointing to his ties to troubled figures like Jim Jones, though such claims lack definitive evidence. The renaming underscores a belief that Milk’s legacy, tainted by personal failings, does not merit the honor of a naval vessel, prioritizing instead a narrative of discipline and integrity.