This story has gotten all down on the inside of me and made me sick! I want to regurgitate! I'm looking for the cure! But as vile and disgusting as it is, I just haven't been able to let go of it! If it weren't for Rod McCullom's consistent reporting of this story over at Rodonline Navy: There is "No Evidence to Suspect Hate Crime" in Torture and Killing of Black, Gay Sailor, I don't think I'd know about it at all. Maybe you haven't heard it either? I think it should be all over the net by now, and I feel it's now my duty to help spread the word. Somebody over there said "OH..HELL..NO! IT'S TIME FOR SOME ACTION". I feel the exact same way.
Last Tuesday, 29 year-old Houston TX native, and U.S. Navy Seaman, August Provost III was found dead in a guard shack on the western edge of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, CA. He had been shot three times, his mouth was gagged, his hands and feet were bound, and his body burned. Brother Provost enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March of 2008, and was a boatswain mate seaman who worked on hovercrafts. He was also a somewhat openly gay man serving under the archaic, dehumanizing U.S. military policy of Don't Ask! Don't Tell! (DADT). Open about his sexuality on both his Facebook account, as well as his Myspace page, he also had a boyfriend that he referred to as "the love of my life". Immediately after joining the service last year, he was faced with anti-gay harassment from fellow servicemen that lasted up to the time of his torture and murder. Provost's boyfriend, identified as Kaether Cordero, has since indicated that those who became friends with his partner would know of his sexuality, because Provost would "trust" them with that information.
When this story broke last week, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service had taken a "person of interest" in custody in connection with the case, but charges had not been filed. And charges will not be filed! That person of interest has since been released, and they now have someone else they're holding...yet another fellow marine that they're now interested in. Wow! That was quick! Especially since, in the interim, that same investigative committee has since issued a statement that says August Provost's death was "a random act unrelated to his sexuality" and that "there is no evidence or information that suggests this is a hate crime". I'm wondering exactly how many "persons of interest" did it take to stuff his mouth so he couldn't scream? Exactly how many interested parties did it take to hold his hands behind his back, while someone else tied his feet together? Did the smell of burning flesh make them as physically ill as they are mentally ill, or did they not stick around to watch that part? For someone whose claims of harassment that (supposedly) cannot be proven, and who met a tragic end so "randomly", there sure doesn't seem to be a shortage of "suspects".
Mr. Provost's aunt, Rose Roy of Beaumont TX, said her nephew had complained to his family about being harassed for being gay since day one. Capt. Matt Brown, director of public affairs for Navy Region Southwest, told the UPI "the military also couldn't confirm that Seaman August Provost was harassed in the days before he was killed". But his family and especially his sister say otherwise. She told the San Diego Union-Tribune that they supposedly advised their beloved family member to "tell his supervisor". Of course, what would it have really profited Provost to go that route? Under the policy of (DADT), he would have been "telling" on himself. DADT is as much a murderer of the lives, livelihoods, and careers as the soul-less cowards who executed Seaman Provost. I'm afraid of some of the responses that this story will generate; afraid of those who'll say "well, maybe he shouldn't have trusted anyone with that information". Okay! But worse yet, "that's what he gets for being there in the first place" is inevitable and especially frightening. It's this same mentality that DADT fosters, supports and validates. It validated the hatred and homophobia that led to Provost's demise among his own.
Oddly enough, this story broke the same day Defense Secretary Robert Gates claimed the Pentagon just now discovered how "restrictive" the DADT law is, but how they were "looking for more flexibility" to apply the law, and "if there's a more humane way to apply it - until it gets changed". Even more peculiar is the fact that Democratic Rep. Bob Filner of suburban San Diego was at Camp Pendleton "for over 5 hours the day of the murder and no one in the Navy thought it was important enough to tell him". So far, anti-gay California Republican Congressman, Brian Bilby, whose district includes Camp Pendleton, has totally ignored the murder of Seaman August Provost. Bilby, an avid supporter of the military & DADT, and also a member of the House Veteran's Affairs Committee hasn't issued a mumbling bumbling word on a death that took place right on the base, right in his district. But what could he really say? Since he's such an avid supporter of the policy, how could he get away without co-signing the torture and horrific murder of yet another black gay man.
Is it too much to ask that President Barack Obama at least make a statement? Or is he going to go silent, too! How many more dishonorable dismissals and discharges of proud & talented service men and women who just happen to be gay or lesbian will it take? How many more deaths? How many more tortures? I think the president has the answer to, at least, some of those questions. After all, he's the one who made the promise isn't he? His answer might be in the stroke of a pen. But when will he make good on it? When I look into the beauty of August Provost's smiling face above, I look into shining eyes that will shine no more. I wonder if he'll see the same beauty I see when I look at Provost's smiling face in the photo above? Who else will consider how Kaether Cordero will miss the stylish swagger seen in Provost's hat profile? Will looking at Provost's photos remind us of how many LGBT folk in the military, how many service people of color are being tossed, turned & killed (either by the letter, the spirit, or in this case the body) by their own? How many people will finally get the level of hatred that LGBT people experience on a daily basis for just EXISTING!
The commenter I mention earlier in this post over on Rod McCullom's blog said THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN THE SYSTEM AND THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN THE LAW! I personally believe that! But how long before there'll be in a change in some of us?
And what are we going to do NOW?
Where is the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the only "national" black LGBT rights organization, on this?
Posted by: elg | July 05, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Passionately stated and well reasoned. More than 260 gay people have been dismissed from the armed forces under DADT since President Obama's inauguration in January...
What happened to Mr. Provost is only part of the hate crimes being committed against gay men and women. It's the disgrace of the armed services; and it's been going on for some time. And, until they not only get rid of DADT but develop stronger laws to protect people in the armed services, it will continue.
President Obama, where the hell are you? Where is the "urgency of now" that you used to talk about in your campaign? When are going to get rid DADT and implement stricter laws and stop slapping the wrists of murders or do nothing at all?
Posted by: MacDaddy | July 05, 2009 at 12:07 PM
This is sick and disgusting! But the United States has a vile habit of not cooperating in these situations. The Tillman family is STILL trying to uncover the truth, the whole truth about their son. And there was a young black woman killed in Iraq under horrendous circumstances that probably involved rape last year, I believe.
We can write to our representatives as gays and lesbians, as black men and women, as human beings to let the government know WE are interested in seeing this case and others similar to it SOLVED and JUSTICE taken.
Posted by: Thomas | July 05, 2009 at 05:33 PM
COREY HEARING ABOUT STUFF LIKE THIS MAKES ME SO UPSET...THIS IS SICK AND SO HORRIBLY WRONG...JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED!!!
Posted by: THEGAYTKEEPER | July 05, 2009 at 06:18 PM
ELG: Good Question! WHERE ARE THEY ? ? ?
MacDADDY: I love your reasoning and passion here in this comment! THANK YOU for saying it!
We both know "until they not only get rid of DADT but develop STRONGER LAWS TO PROTECT PEOPLE in the armed services, it will continue" is more to the WHOLE POINT!
THOMAS: THANK YOU for reminding ME that it's not just the gay and lesbian servicemen, it's also WOMEN of EITHER orientation! MacDaddy recently did a post on the horrific rape and murder of the female soldier you mentioned. You also reminded me that this blog is not my only platform. I'm writing a letter, too!
GAYTE: I believe we'll eventually get sick and tired of being sick and tired? Peace, bruh!
Posted by: Corey Jarrell | July 05, 2009 at 06:40 PM
There are many flaws to the DADT policies of the U.S. military. It is just a shame that the military doesn't seem to care about these kinds of situations when they occur.
I'm afraid even if the military changes the rules, and did away with the DADT policy, things still wouldn't be all that much different. If the top brass arew going to try and cover this up now, why wouldn't they do the same ting even if the military changed it's policies.
This already smells like some of the rape & murder situations of some of the young women in the military. The top brass will go to any lengths to cover up what is happening to our young women, so why would they act any differently towards gays amunst the ranks?
There are a lot of changes that need to be made in our military, but until there is a complete house cleaning from the top all the way down, I don't see anthing changing anytime soon.
And why would the top brass agree to a house cleaning that included getting rid of them.
It's a mess.
Posted by: Solomon | July 05, 2009 at 10:49 PM