The USNS Harvey Milk

Most people may remember Harvey Milk when he was played by Sean Penn in the 2008 film "Milk."
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay elected official of a major city (San Francisco) and a gay rights leader who was gunned down in 1978.

What people may not know was that Harvey served in the Navy.  He was discharged after officials learned that he was hanging out in a park known among gay men. He probably would have served longer in the Navy if things were different back then.

But they are different now. So much so that the Navy is building a ship that will carry Milk's name where it goes. When completed, the ship will refuel others out at sea.

I recently wrote a story about the ship and Harvey's legacy in The New York Times.

A rendering of the USNS Harvey Milk. Photo from the US Navy,