A Christian conservative group has
launched a petition asking Congress to stop the U.S. Navy from naming
a ship after gay icon Harvey Milk.
According to various reports, U.S. Navy
Secretary Ray Mabus plans on naming a fleet oiler the USNS Harvey
Milk.
The American Family Association (AFA)
is calling on its members to sign a petition calling on Congress to
block the Navy's plan.
“I have learned that Secretary of the
Navy Ray Mabus is planning to name a military ship after sexual
predator and pedophile Harvey Milk,” the petition reads, a
reference to Milk's 5-year relationship with Jack McKinley, which
started in New York when McKinley was 16. “It is incomprehensible
to think that our military leadership has descended to the point that
it would even consider naming ships after someone who sought out and
took advantage of a minor. Unfortunately, Secretary Mabus has offered
such a proposal. As a voter in your district, I urge you in the
strongest possible way to get personally involved in stopping Mabus’
plans. Please contact me immediately to let me know that you are as
offended by this proposal as I am…and that you are going to take
action to stop it.”
Milk, who served aboard a submarine
rescue ship during the Korean War, was the first openly gay elected
official of a major U.S. city. He won a seat on the San Francisco
Board of Supervisors in 1977 on a pledge to back gay and lesbian
rights. He was murdered by a disgruntled former supervisor the
following year.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family
Research Council (FRC), has also criticized
the Navy's plan.