April 25, 2012
Navy Asked to Name Ship After Harvey Milk
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
San Diego, CA (AP) --
A congressman wants the Navy to name a ship after slain San Francisco gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
Congressman Bob Filner, a San Diego Democrat, says naming a ship after Milk would be a great tribute to Milk, who served as a Navy officer in the 1950s.
Milk was shot to death on Nov. 27, 1978, while serving as a San Francisco supervisor.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Filner says naming a ship after Milk would promote equality in the military after the recent repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Filner is a candidate for San Diego mayor.
The Los Angeles Times ( http://lat.ms/14FEH) says Filner has pledged to continue his work with San Diego's gay, bisexual and transsexual community to promote Harvey Milk's legacy.