The unveiling ceremony for the USNS Harvey Milk was held in San Diego, California on Saturday (6 November). To keep with tradition, the ship was christened by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine – which was done by Navy veteran and Clinical Program Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Transgender Health, Paula Neira.
San Deigo’s openly gay mayor Todd Gloria gave a heartfelt statement at the ceremony, stating: “Harvey was a beacon of hope not just for LGBT+ people, but all Americans.
Now, this ship will serve as a symbol of hope for the world to see,” Before becoming one of the most notable LGBTQ+ activists in history, Milk served as a diving officer and Navy Lieutenant during the Korean War.