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07-03-09
July 3, 2009
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-1000
Dear Secretary Mabus:
I write to you concerning the death of Seaman August Provost, who on June 30th, 2009, was found dead on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego, CA, in an apparent homicide.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. SLDN has provided legal assistance to thousands of service members impacted by this law.
Seaman Provost was one of the 65,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members who serve our country despite "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
News reports indicate that the victim may have been targeted because of his sexual orientation. As an organization that represents LGBT service members, SLDN encourages the NCIS to conduct a full and thorough investigation into all leads in order for the motivation of this incident to be determined, and a successful conclusion reached. Although there is, to our knowledge, no evidence that the death of Seaman Provost was a hate-motivated crime, nothing short of a full and thorough investigation can dispel concerns that his sexual orientation was a factor in his death. To ensure the safety of all service members, it is important to understand whether this apparent homicide was a hate crime so that similar incidents do not happen again.
I would also request that you provide us with a direct contact person at NCIS so that the SLDN legal department might coordinate with your investigators. In light of our experience with such investigations, our contacts within the military LGBT community, and the reluctance of many LGBT service members to come forward without the assurance and support that they can do so safely, it may well be that we can provide valuable assistance to the investigators as well as information that might not be normally made available to your investigators.
SLDN joins Members of Congress and other concerned citizens and organizations in calling for a full investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding Seaman Provost's death. We urge that a complete report of your findings be provided as soon as possible.
Your consideration and attention to this matter is appreciated.
Respectfully,
Aubrey Sarvis
Executive Director
SLDN Urges Secretary of the Navy to Conduct Full and Thorough Investigation
July 3, 2009
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-1000
Dear Secretary Mabus:
I write to you concerning the death of Seaman August Provost, who on June 30th, 2009, was found dead on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in San Diego, CA, in an apparent homicide.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance. SLDN has provided legal assistance to thousands of service members impacted by this law.
Seaman Provost was one of the 65,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members who serve our country despite "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
News reports indicate that the victim may have been targeted because of his sexual orientation. As an organization that represents LGBT service members, SLDN encourages the NCIS to conduct a full and thorough investigation into all leads in order for the motivation of this incident to be determined, and a successful conclusion reached. Although there is, to our knowledge, no evidence that the death of Seaman Provost was a hate-motivated crime, nothing short of a full and thorough investigation can dispel concerns that his sexual orientation was a factor in his death. To ensure the safety of all service members, it is important to understand whether this apparent homicide was a hate crime so that similar incidents do not happen again.
I would also request that you provide us with a direct contact person at NCIS so that the SLDN legal department might coordinate with your investigators. In light of our experience with such investigations, our contacts within the military LGBT community, and the reluctance of many LGBT service members to come forward without the assurance and support that they can do so safely, it may well be that we can provide valuable assistance to the investigators as well as information that might not be normally made available to your investigators.
SLDN joins Members of Congress and other concerned citizens and organizations in calling for a full investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding Seaman Provost's death. We urge that a complete report of your findings be provided as soon as possible.
Your consideration and attention to this matter is appreciated.
Respectfully,
Aubrey Sarvis
Executive Director
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