In a recent development, Academy Award winners Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn have expressed their disapproval of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's directive to the United States Navy.
The order in question involves the removal of the name of the late gay rights leader, Harvey Milk, from the oiler ship USNS Harvey Milk. Black and Penn, both of whom were involved in the 2008 film Milk, have voiced their criticism of Hegseth's decision, questioning his wisdom and knowledge.
As reported by Breitbart, the Hollywood Reporter quoted Penn's email to them, where he stated, "Ive never before seen a Secretary of Defense so aggressively demote himself to the rank of Chief PETTY Officer." Black, on the other hand, saw the renaming of the ship as a move to fuel the culture wars and create division.
He stated, "Its meant to get us to react in ways that are self-centered so that we are further distanced from our brothers and sisters in equally important civil rights fights in this country. Its divide and conquer."
The reactions from Penn and Black were triggered by reports that a memorandum from the Office of the Secretary of the Navy indicated preparations to change the ship's name. A defense official confirmed to Military.com that Secretary of the U.S. Navy John Phelan had been ordered by Hegseth to change the ship's name. The official also suggested that the timing of the announcement, during Pride month, was intentional.
In July 2016, former U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus had announced plans to honor Milk by naming a Military Sealift Command fleet oiler after him, as previously reported by Breitbart News. Milk, a Navy veteran, is recognized for embodying the values of honor, courage, and commitment in his fight for gay rights, as stated on the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
From its inception to the present day, the Navy has upheld these core values among its active, reserve, and civilian members. Harvey Milk, a Navy veteran, exemplified these values throughout his civilian life, particularly in his role as California's first openly gay elected official in 1978. Despite his assassination less than a year into his term, Milk's life and legacy continue to resonate with the Navy's core values.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Black highlighted Milk's diverse career before his film. He said, "Theres a lot that Harvey did before my film fades in. He worked on Wall Street. He worked on Broadway. He was a school teacher and was in the Navy right here in California. Harvey always excelled at every single thing he did, including his work in the Navy." Black further emphasized Milk's status as a civil rights icon, asserting that "renaming a ship isnt going to change that."
This incident underscores the ongoing tension between traditional military values and the recognition of diverse identities within its ranks. It raises questions about the extent to which the military is willing to honor its members who have made significant contributions to civil rights.
Despite the renaming of the ship, Harvey Milk's legacy as a civil rights icon and a Navy veteran remains unaltered.
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