Daily News logo Newsletter logo   Search News    

Op-Ed Contributor

Was Seaman August Provost Murdered Because Of His Sexual Orientation?

  Share This Story

By

"A sailor found dead earlier this week at California's Camp Pendleton was shot while standing sentry, and a fire was set in an attempt to cover up evidence, the U.S. Navy said.

The death of Seaman August Provost of Houston, Texas, is being investigated as a homicide, Capt. Matt Brown told reporters on Thursday. A sailor is in custody in the case, Brown said.

Although at least one of Provost's relatives said she believes he was killed because of his sexual orientation and his race, Brown said there was no indication the killing was a hate crime. A U.S. congressman also said on Friday there are indications Provost may have been killed because of his sexual orientation." CNN


The military's "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy incites violence against gays and lesbians in the military. This draconian policy depicts homosexuality as a crime so vile that a soldier or sailor must be immediately booted if his sexual orientation is discovered.

When Obama campaigned for the presidency he promised to do away with with "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", as well as DOMA. But now that Obama is firmly ensconced in the White House, he hasn't lifted a finger to advance human rights for gays and lesbians.

Obama, Palin and everybody else who is in favor of depriving gays and lesbians of basic human rights shares in the responsibility of the murder of this young sailor.

The Navy may be quick to rule out Provost's murder as a hate crime, but there should be a full and thorough investigation. Provost had told family members that he was being harassed because of his sexual orientation.

By all accounts Provost was an outstanding Seaman, and his death is a great loss to the Navy and to our country.

Obama should send a clear signal that attacks against gay military personnel will not be tolerated by repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Robert Paul Reyes is a NewsBlaze writer on Politics, Pop Culture and Pointless Pontificating. Contact him by writing to NewsBlaze.

* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze


 
Support Wikipedia

NeswBlaze top writers

Find more stories recommended by Stumbleupon.

newsletter logo

What's Hot?
1 .Supermodel Bar Refaeli Adorns the Cover of the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue on Newsstands Today! - 90
2 .Go Social Film Magazine Partners with the San Jose Short Film Festival to Stream Official Selections Online to a Global Audience via iPad - 26
3 .Africa Oil Operations Update - 23
4 .WeDoRecover Expands Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centre Network with a New Partner Rehab Centre in Durban, South Africa That Will Focus on Upmarket South African and UK, English Patients - 21
5 .Photos: Valkyrie MEDEVAC - 22
6 .F-Secure Protection Service for Business Now Protects Mobile Devices Too - 18
7 .Oprah Winfrey Come Out of The Closet! Admit You're a Lesbian! - 12
8 .These 10 Comfortable Walking Shoes Are a Step in the Right Direction - 13
9 .Waterless 'Air Cooler PLUS' Beats Summer's Heat Without Making Your Home Muggy - 14
10 ."K-1 Rising 2012 - K-1 World Max Final 16 2012" Announces May 27 Pay-Per-View Ustream Channel - 12
Updated: 10:59 PDT     1932

NewsBlaze Editors

editors

NewsBlaze Writers

news writer images

Writers Wanted

Help NewsBlaze provide daily news, including top stories, Home and Garden, Technology, The Environment and more. NewsBlaze Writer

Follow NewsBlaze

NewsBlaze Social Media Logos NewsBlaze Facebook NewsBlaze LinkedIn NewsBlaze Twitter NewsBlaze YouTube NewsBlaze MySpace NewsBlaze Fan Page NewsBlaze StumbleUpon NewsBlaze Political Cartoons NewsBlaze Editorial Cartoons
NewsBlaze 
Copyright © 2004-2012 NewsBlaze LLC
Use of this website is subject to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy  | DMCA Notice |         Press Room