The Navy plans to commission an oiler and name it after gay rights activist Harvey Milk, an official confirmed Friday to CNN. The first openly gay man to be elected to office in California, Milk was assassinated in 1978.
The USNS Harvey Milk will join the John Lewis class of oilers, which are named after civil rights leaders. Other ships will honor former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth.
Milk was a member of the Navy himself, having taught diving lessons in California during the Korean War; he was wearing his Navy belt buckle when he was killed. Still, some are upset over the Navy's decision, given Milk's outspoken opposition to the Vietnam War.
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