Death, Anxiety, and Questions in San Diego and at Camp Pendleton
This Fourth of July we are saddened by the death of one of our LGBT service members, Seaman August Provost of Houston, Texas, who was found dead Tuesday morning on Camp Pendleton. Today we extend our deepest sympathy to the Provost family and loved ones. We cannot imagine the pain and puzzlement, and, yes, anger, they must be feeling. Who could have been motivated to do this and why? Our prayers and thoughts are with the family and loved ones. We are awaiting their guidance on what our next steps should be in this case.
We don't know all the facts surrounding Seaman Provost's death or precisely where the investigation stands. But we do want and need answers, and we need to see concrete signs that the investigation of this homicide proceeds without delay according to the books.
We also have to let the Navy do its job here. There is no evidence they are not doing it.
At SLDN we have expressed our concern about Seaman Provost's death to the White House, the Secretary of the Navy, to congressional committees , and to the Navy's chief spokesman. We have also offered the services of the SLDN Legal Team to NCIS pointing out we stand ready to work with investigators on the ground and that we have experience and expertise in this area and may well receive information that might not be made available to the field investigators during the normal course of their work.
We continue to urge LGBT service members in the area who may have knowledge of the deceased and/or of the homicide to contact us for a consultation before they engage with investigators. To speak with an attorney, LGBT service members can contact SLDN's Legal Department by either calling (202) 328-3244 x 100 or e-mailing us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
This senseless death makes us all sad and it underscores the vulnerabilities of gay service members. It also reminds us that LGBT service members forced to serve in silence under DADT have a heavy and additional burden to carry every day. Time and the findings of the investigation will tell if sexual orientation or race were factors in this death. SLDN will be monitoring very closely and if we need to interject ourselves into the investigation on the ground at a critical point we will not hesitate to do so.
07-04-09 By Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN Executive Director |
2 Comments
Comments for this entry are closed.CJ in Jpn on July 21, 2009 at 01.44 am
This story hits home for me. I couldn’t imagine hearing about my partners death through the news paper! This is absolutely ridiculous! This is an even more reason for this policy to be repealed. This is one of my biggest fears. If my partner gets deployed and if something happens, how will I know? This is disrespectful not only to the deceased, but to their loved ones and family!! I hope this will change…and SOON!!
Stephen in Severna Park, MD on July 13, 2009 at 12.34 am
And assuming that this is a hate crime, as there are so many others, we must ask how we hold accountable the churches whose red robes are colored with the blood of these soldiers.
And the 3000 or so gay kids who commit suicide every year.
And the unknown thousands who commit suicide when they eg lose their opposite sex friend. A friend who was just a cover for hiding their true sexuality.
And the number of str8 kids who are suicidal, or even commit suicide. Because they are failing with the opposite sex.
And in that failure, they feel that they have no choice left except to “become gay”. And of course, that is seen as a fate worse then death. So we understand, don’t we.
I have one of those in the last category. A good psychologist helped. And he was able by age 19 to move out to live with some somewhat older friends who explained the dating game. Today he is married, etc. Doing well. But we could have lost him.
But I never found out the real reason I listed above until I had him meet Matthew Shepard’s Mother in 2005. And then he told me.
And in a follow up call to his Psych of the past, the Dr. told me this is a very common fear.
It is time not only to eliminate homophobia, but to bring to justice the criminals masquerading as churches. Violating every part of the meaning of God, and Jesus Life on Earth, as a message of God’s love for all his creation.
BTW, this son, if there were only 10 stt8 people on Earth, I am convinced, would be one of the 10. And over the years, I’ve met hundreds of gay people, and had lessons in how one recognizes them. And they are all great peopl.