A Utah lawmaker is seeking to rename a street honoring gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk after Charlie Kirk, the conservative leader recently killed in Utah.
State Rep. Trevor Lee (R-16th Dist.) introduced legislation to rename a section of 900 South, currently known as Harvey Milk Boulevard, to Charlie Kirk Boulevard. Lee says Kirk’s assassination in the Beehive State makes the tribute more “locally relevant” than honoring Milk, who was killed in San Francisco in 1978.
“From the vast majority of Utahns, they would say that Harvey Milk does not have any connection to Utah whatsoever,” Lee told ABC 4. “But Charlie Kirk does now, especially after being assassinated in the state of Utah.”
Kirk, a Trump ally and father of two, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University in Orem, about 34 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. Lee described the attack as a senseless act against someone who sought dialogue across political lines.
“It’s extremely sad that someone was assassinated because they wanted to have dialogue and someone didn’t agree with that,” Lee said. “I think it’s a good way to honor someone who always wanted to reach out to the other side of the aisle.”
Road Name History and Local Authority
Harvey Milk Boulevard was designated in 2016 to recognize the late LGBTQ+ activist. However, because 900 South is a city street rather than a state highway, any renaming would require approval from the Salt Lake City Council, not the state legislature, according to Utah municipal code.
Controversy and Political Context
Lee, who has served in the Utah House of Representatives since January 2023, insists the proposed name change is meant to honor Kirk rather than diminish Milk’s legacy. However, the Republican lawmaker has faced criticism for prior comments considered anti-LGBT, including posts on a now-deleted X account.
Earlier this year, Lee sponsored a law that went into effect in May prohibiting Pride flags in schools and government buildings. In June, he wrote that “Utahns overwhelmingly don’t support Pride month” and hinted at future legislation targeting what he described as “woke groups.”
Whether Salt Lake City will entertain the proposal remains uncertain, but the suggestion has already sparked debate over local history, LGBTQ+ recognition, and the politicization of public spaces.
