Two out politicians have refused to back plans to name a US battleship after Harvey Milk because the civil rights icon was 'anti-war' and 'anti-military'.

Gay and bisexual members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, David Campos and Christina Olague, initially supported the resolution drawn up by gay colleague Scott Wiener which urged the US Navy to name a vessel after Milk.

However, the pair withdrew their names as co-sponsors after concerns were raised about the famous activist’s views on the military.