California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Response to Defense Secretary’s Mismatched Priorities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus Response to Defense Secretary’s Mismatched Priorities

SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus released the following statement in response to U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth’s mismatched priorities by renaming USNS Harvey Milk:

“We wish MAGA Republicans under President Trump would focus less on distracting the American public from their disastrous budget bill and failing governance with unnecessary measures such as the renaming of the USNS Harvey Milk, and instead focus on legitimate issues involving national security. 

Harvey Milk served honorably, was stationed in San Diego, CA, and reached the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) within 4 years of enlisting. He was forcibly ousted from the Navy after being questioned about his sexual orientation. Unfortunately, it is no surprise to us that the same Trump Administration that has reinstated a modern-day Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell seeks to erase the legacy of this historic LGBTQ+ service member. 

Pete Hegseth – the U.S. Secretary of Defense – has made our nation less safe and ready to combat foreign and domestic threats by kicking out able service members who are transgender; leaking national security plans on the messaging app Signal, putting troops at risk; participating in an administration that has withheld necessary health care for families of service members; and now, is spending money to erase a trailblazing Californian who served in the Navy, Harvey Milk. This is both another example of the Trump Administration’s erasure of LGBTQ+ history and their inability to provide the utmost safety and support for Americans.”

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About the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus

California’s Legislative LGBTQ Caucus was formed in 2002 to create a forum for California Legislators to discuss issues that affect LGBTQ Californians and to further the goal of equality and justice for all Californians. California became the first state in the United States to officially form a caucus of openly-LGBTQ state legislators and continues to be a leader of progress for all Americans. In 2023, our membership hit a new milestone of 12 members, becoming one of the largest LGBTQ Caucus in the Nation, and continues to remain strong. Despite tremendous progress and an unprecedented swell of support for the LGBTQ community worldwide, there is still much work to do to protect and uplift the most vulnerable in our community. The LGBTQ Caucus strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion of all people, including differently abled bodies. Our Caucus is working diligently to support LGBTQ leaders that represent our community at the local, state, and federal levels.

For more information on the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, please visit https://lgbtqcaucus.legislature.ca.gov/ 

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