The U.S. Navy is building a ship in honor of Harvey Milk. 

Milk, a pioneering LGBTQ politician, served in the Navy as a dive instructor until 1955 when he was forced to resign because of his sexual orientation.

Milk went on to become one of the first openly gay politicians in the U.S. and the first openly gay official elected in California.

He was elected to the San Francisco board of supervisors in 1977 and then later assassinated by a fellow supervisor.

Construction on the USNS Harvey Milk has begun in San Diego.

The resupply oil ship will be one of six vessels named after U.S. civil rights leaders.