You’ll remember that one year ago today, U.S. Navy Seaman August Provost, a black, gay sailor, was found murdered, his body shot three times, gagged, bound, and burned. While there were clear signs this was a hate crime, the U.S. Navy refused to label is as such. Even the Congressional Black Caucus demanded a full investigation. It was never performed.
The circumstances surrounding this murder are ghastly, but the Navy’s response and handling of it are ghastly as well. We’re fortunate Provost was at least buried with full military honors, but that’s not enough. The Navy has resigned itself, and wants his family to accept that it was a “random act of violence.” That’s insufficient, especially for a military organization that purports to follow rules and have strong traditions.
Reportedly, the Navy did not even initially tell Provost’s family that he was murdered. Talk about a cover-up.
I hope the family and friends of August Provost will forgive me for using his murder, and subsequent treatment of his murder by the Navy, as evidence that the U.S. Military cannot possibly be trusted to police itself, investigate itself, or execute policy itself, when it comes to gay soldiers and gay rights. Which leads us to have to ask how the military will handle integration of openly gay and lesbian servicemembers into its ranks.
Sadly, August Provost is far from the only victim of hate crimes under the military’s watch. Let’s not forget Barry Winchell, murdered by a fellow soldier. There are many others, and it’s been reported that there are hundreds of hate-related crimes in the military each year.
Talk about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in recent weeks has been sidetracked, moving from repeal to the Elena Kagan nomination and the courageous actions she took while at Harvard. There’s been little news and little action since May 27, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Murphy Amendment, the DADT repeal compromise that will now be attached to the Defense Authorization Bill. We’re still awaiting the Senate vote, and, ultimately, awaiting to see how the military executes the repeal, if and when it is signed into law.
At least 70% of Americans (a recent CNN poll put that number at 78%) fully support gay and lesbian servicemembers serving openly in the U.S. military. The just-passed Senate icon, Robert Byrd, a 92-year old West Virginian, “renounced his objections to gay rights,” and supported repeal. And while president Obama last week claimed we are closer than ever to repeal, most in the LGBT community are skeptical.
Fifty-one weeks ago, civil rights activist, author, and Clinton advisor David Mixner wrote,
“[O]ne can’t help but wonder if Navy Seaman August Provost would be alive today if it weren’t for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’? The gay seaman had been complaining to family and friends of harassment but felt he couldn’t report it to superiors because of DADT. He would have had to come out and they would have dismissed him. Seaman Provost was killed at Camp Pendleton. Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) is convinced it was a hate crime. Watch the military over the next week attempt to cover this one up.
Indeed, we watched and we saw.
It’s time to fully investigate the death of August Provost. It was claimed his killer had been found, but committed suicide while in the Navy’s custody. That needs to be investigated also.
Some said that Provost’s murder was gay also, and afraid of being outed. We’ll never know, since the Navy did not sufficiently investigate.
Scott Wooledge at DailyKos wrote,
“Provost had recently complained to family members about a person who was harassing him, so they advised him to tell his supervisor, said his sister, Akalia Provost of Houston. –San Diego Union Tribune
“This is what people do when a co-worker harasses them, right? But this is not an option for LGB servicemembers. They know anything that draws attention to their personal life, or relationships with other troops has the very real potential to end their career.”
Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” needs to happen. Soon. It cannot happen soon enough. In the name of August Provost, and in the name of the 65,000 LGBT soldiers currently, bravely serving their country.
Scott Wooledge updated his piece on August Provost today. It’s worth a visit, as he offers a video and information on politicians who had been trying to get answers from the Navy. We need to contact them and remind them. I hope you will.