Hegseth Under Fire from Gay Congressman for Failing to Acknowledge Harvey Milk’s Service

In a tense exchange that sparked further controversy, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth found himself under fire from Congressman Sorensen, a Democratic representative from Illinois, during a Thursday session of the House Armed Services Committee. The heated discussion centered around the legacy of Harvey Milk, the pioneering gay rights activist and former Navy officer, who was discharged in the 1950s for being openly gay.

The clash began when Sorensen, speaking passionately about his military family background, redirected the conversation to Harvey Milk’s service in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. Sorensen noted that both of his grandfathers had been military veterans and instilled in him a sense of pride for all who served.

But in stark contrast, Sorensen pointed out, Harvey Milk—despite his own courage and service—was unjustly discharged from the Navy due to his sexual orientation.

“Which is why I want to talk about a different veteran,” Sorensen began. “One who served courageously, like my Grandpa Sorensen. Unlike my grandpa, this veteran was forced to resign from the Navy—I’m talking about Harvey Milk—because he was gay.”

The congressman continued to emphasize the inherent injustice in Milk’s discharge, which, despite the military’s initial discrimination, did not erase his value as a veteran. Sorensen passionately expressed his frustration over the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in the military, a subject that remains a contentious issue in American political and social circles.

“You see, as a kid, all I wanted to be was the weatherman on TV,” Sorensen recounted. “I learned that I could have gone into the Army or the Navy to learn meteorology. But someone like me wasn’t allowed. They didn’t want someone like me, Mr. Secretary. There wasn’t anything that I could do to change myself or the way that my nation thought of me.”

Sorensen then turned his focus back to Hegseth, demanding a clear stance on whether Harvey Milk, as a military veteran, deserved to be honored for his service.

“Do you believe that Harvey Milk is a veteran who deserves this country’s thanks?” Sorensen asked, his voice carrying the weight of years of inequality and exclusion faced by gay service members.

Hegseth, who had earlier addressed the naming of a Navy vessel after Milk, began to pivot toward the topic of ship renaming. However, Sorensen was not satisfied with the diversion and repeated his question regarding Milk’s recognition as a veteran. Hegseth’s response, though polite, left Sorensen and many others in the room unsatisfied.

“If his service was deemed honorable, yes,” Hegseth answered. However, he quickly noted that Milk had been given an “other than honorable” discharge, which casts doubt on the recognition of his service.

The lack of a definitive, supportive answer on Hegseth’s part angered Sorensen, who continued to press the point that every veteran, regardless of their background, race, or sexual orientation, deserves acknowledgment for their service. “I disagree with your leadership and his,” Sorensen told Hegseth, referring to his dissatisfaction with both Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan's approach to the issue.

“Because I believe that every veteran deserves our thanks. We all walk in the footsteps of the leaders before us. And you may not find the value in the fact that many of those people are women, with different skin colors, different backgrounds, different talents, immigrants, gay, straight, transgender, disabled.”

For Sorensen, the issue transcended a mere historical debate about Harvey Milk. It represented a broader concern about the direction in which America is headed in terms of inclusivity and fairness in the military. He made it clear that when veterans like Milk—who fought for the country despite the odds—are not properly recognized, it sends a message to future generations of LGBTQ+ individuals that they are not welcome in the armed forces.

“We’re going back to that time,” Sorensen warned. “Gay kids like me, they don’t want to go into the Army, they don’t want to go into the Navy, because you don’t care for them. It’s happening all over our country.”

This bold statement highlighted a deep concern among LGBTQ+ rights activists and veterans about the current climate in the military, where the struggles of past generations may be forgotten, and progress on inclusivity could be rolled back.

Further complicating the situation, Sorensen highlighted that Hegseth’s decision regarding the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk—the first Navy vessel named after an openly gay person—was reportedly still not finalized. While Hegseth had ordered the renaming of the ship, Navy Secretary Phelan had indicated that the final decision was still under review.

“This is a national disgrace,” Sorensen said, his words carrying the urgency of someone fighting not only for recognition but for the future of the military itself. “My grandpa taught me never to judge the value of a veteran’s service, and I hope, Mr. Secretary, that you can learn to do the same in your capacity.”

The debate over Harvey Milk’s recognition within the Navy, along with the broader question of how the military should honor its LGBTQ+ veterans, is far from resolved. For Sorensen and many others, the issue is a moral one, where the value of service should not be determined by sexual orientation.

The military’s refusal to fully embrace this inclusive mindset represents an ongoing struggle, one that pits tradition against progress.

In the coming months, the Navy’s decisions regarding the renaming of military vessels named after civil rights icons, such as Milk and others like Supreme Court justices and abolitionists, will continue to stir political debates across the nation. It is clear, however, that for Congressman Sorensen, the matter is not only about ships or names—it’s about the dignity and respect that every veteran deserves, regardless of who they are.

As this debate unfolds, the hope is that the military will recognize the service of all those who have worn the uniform and fought for the values of equality and justice upon which the nation was built. For now, though, the question remains: Will Pete Hegseth and the U.S. Navy fully recognize Harvey Milk’s honorable military service, and in doing so, send a clear message of inclusion to future generations of veterans? The answer, for many, is still to be determined.