August Provost, Gay Sailor, Found Dead On Base In Suspected Homicide

San Diego Union-Tribune:

CAMP PENDLETON -- The body of a 29-year-old sailor was found in a Camp Pendleton guard shack Tuesday, and a "person of interest" was taken into custody in connection with the suspected homicide, Navy officials said yesterday.

Read the whole story: San Diego Union-Tribune

Comments

[MoeB]

The article didn't contain much information, so I think maybe we should all take a breath and let more facts come in before we jump to wild conclusions. It is wholly possible that this was murder and that the murder was motivated by the sailor's sexuality. But we don't know FOR SURE yet.

[LintLass]

We know for sure that if it was, he was hooped by policy. That should be enough.

I suppose as long as all the harrassment and isolation and vulnerability to *anyone* that might do anything to him might possibly *not* have had anything to do with his death, that that makes it OK?

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Speculating is not okay.

You are creating a whole scenario that may or may not exist. Based on the report, we do not know if he was being harassed beause of his sexuality; just that he was being harassed. We do not know if he felt vulnerable due to his sexuality; just that he was "out" and had a partner. We do not know if he felt isolated because of his sexuality.

We just do not know. Why create a whole fact pattern that may not be relevant to August Provost? Wait for the full story.

[LintLass]

Let's put it this way. If a servicemember who was being harrassed and oppressed about his orientation while serving his country with honor, *got hit by a *bus* yesterday, is *that* any reason to say 'Be patient and live under DADT?'

[LintLass]

I think it's kind of the point, actually..­. Speculate as we might, we *can't* come up with a scenario that makes how DADT treated this man "OK."

[LintLass]

Yaknow? *Speculate* as we *might,* we *can't* look at this and see a good argument even to be 'patient' about at least *suspending DADT.*

People are still dying. Kids all over are still being hurt and having their futures ruined, while others say it's 'prejudiced' to even cry out about it. Tick, tock.

[MizLiz]

So much for the humane don't ask don't tell.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

There is no "humane" DADT in this type of instance.

I assume you refer to Secretary of Defense Gates discussing not pursuing violations of DADT when a person is outed by a third party. I do not see how that would apply. First, there is no new policy; just considerations for trying to avoid the restrictive nature of the law. Second, August Provost was murdered and there is no investigation as to his sexuality.

[Mr. Cobb]

I'm glad that you are here to explain all this to us. There always seems to be someone.

[Mr. Cobb]

Three were "discharged" that day.

[WhirledTraveler]

Will Obama continue to provide nothing more than...lip­-service?

[MadHeart]

It doesn't matter what your nationality, race or sexual orientation is: the fact remains that women are the most oppressed people on the planet. Lesbians have actually benefitted more from the women's and suffragist movements than from the gay movement where their issues are many times at odds with gay males.

[sturzl]

Unless you are a lesbian, how do you know this? What issues are gay men and lesbians at odds over? I think we listen to each other quite well.

[MadHeart]

Don't confuse gender with sexuality. Women have been (and still are) denied many roles in every society and are still judged by their gender, if not by their expressions of sexuality.

[LintLass]

Relevance?

And what 'at odds?'

[Mr. Cobb]

It's a heterosexual mafia because I've been monitoring this site for hours and it still reads:

Comments are temporarily unavailable due to technical difficulties. Thank you for your patience.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Log off. Restart. Comments are being made here all morning.

[Mr. Cobb]

You're more than welcome to do the same, yourself. I've read your "comments" for some time.

[PIatipus]

I am shocked!!! Wait... this happened in San Diego? Oh, not surprised in that case.

[TomCat84]

It happened in San Diego County, not the city....Ca­mp Pendleton is some 30 miles north of downtown San Diego.

[motodude]

This is the result of anti gay bigotry, legalized and actively pursued by Don't Ask Don't Tell.

But it sure isn't time yet for Obama to lift a finger to stop this backwards thinking.

We should be patient, he's got too much to do.

Not too many more lives will be ruined or taken by legally making a class of people sub human.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

We do not know what this is the result of. Just because August Provost was gay doesn't mean he was murdered for that reason.

Let's not prejudice and use this as a reason to castigate the Prez.

In my view, this MIGHT be more reason to let the Prez and the Pentagon do its work in studying how to implement the repeal of DADT. Let's just wait and see what the facts are.

[LintLass]

It's not 'prejudicing' to point out that people being harassed for their sexuality and can't do anything about it, or even tell their comrades they're being harassed..­. Because that's an unfair military policy that he lived in... Keep getting harassed and murdered or driven to suicide.

If it was bad enough to worry his Mom over, it was probably a lot worse than he told his Mom, too.

[LintLass]

I'm also *really* starting to resent the implication it's 'prejudiced' to criticize the President if you're a white LBGT person.

[wijg]

The President needs to sign that executive order (DADT), now!

[We-Are-The-Ones]

His name was August Provost. He was an AFRICAN-AMERICAN GAY male, willing to serve this country.

May he rest in peace.

May his family learn the facts surrounding his death. Let us not assume this was wholly or solely about sexual orientation. It could be race. It could be something else entirely.

May he rest in peace.

[LintLass]

All blessings.

But, if it was about race, he could have had comrades and the chain of command to go to. If he had to hide his orientation, he was on his own and vulnerable. This should not be.

[rkreyn]

If you disagree with the policy then don't sign up! The military has laws against adultery. Those soldier are kicked out more than gays. You don't hear them crying to high heaven. Why, because we knew the law existed before we took the oath!

[wijg]

Excellent point.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

It is not necessarily true that a Black person would feel comfortable to talk to anyone about r@cism . . . colleagues or the chain of command. Unless you have been a victim of racial discrimination or investigated such, you have no idea how isolating it is. Same for women. Women talk about feeling utter shame for being victimized because of gender. Same for sexual orientation.

People are victimized for various reasons. Do not assume they can seek redress.

Having said that, I know the silence surrounding LGBT in the military. It is a travesty that DADT demands silence.

We do not KNOW what happened. WE have speculation based on our own gut reactions and fears, but at this point, we only have speculation.

I am going to pray for this young person's soul and solace for his family.

[LintLass]

In general, I just don't see your argument. What if racists target *gay black people* cause as gay people they have to hide? Then what happens? Maybe racists just start *calling* black people gay, whether they are or not, so they can do hate crimes without getting punished?

I'm not seeing where the 'separation' on this issue you describe is supposed to be coming from.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I do not claim there is a separation. I am just saying we do not know the facts. This murder could be because of sexual orientation, race, both, or something else entirely.

Just because August Provost was gay that doesn't mean automatically that this is why he was murdered. Just because he was Black doesn't mean automatically that race is why he was murdered. More facts are needed.

Either way, it is awful. He was so YOUNG!!!

[felisa11]

bye everyone, it's been enlightening. have a great day! Happy July 4th!

[We-Are-The-Ones]

And to you. Stay safe.

[CigarGod]

Have a cigar!

[WoodyCPM]

What a terrible shame. So sad. I hope it turns out not to be homophobia as the cause, but no matter, a beautiful young man has been killed, and for whatever reason it's a tragedy. May his family and loved ones find some solace and peace.

[deepsigh]

see dont ask dont tell

[chriss0114]

don't ask, don't tell, don't kill

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Don't ask. Don't tell. Don't out. Don't kill. Don't harm. Don't harass.

[sturzl]

Rest in peace Seaman Provost. I hope they find out what happened. God bless you.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I am amazed and saddened that so many people are jumping to a conclusion that this wonderful young man was murdered because he was gay. He might have been. The murderer might have been a h0m0phobe or a former lover or a love spurned. The murder could have just been crazy. But that is all a guess.

ALL we know RIGHT NOW is that a young person was murdered by persons unknown for reasons unknown. This may or may not be a critique of DADT. Many fears that sexual orientation has SOMETHING to do with it, but that is our fear speaking and not the facts.

Let's not use this young person's death as a reason to spout hateful statements, r@ce baiting, g@y bashing, and denigration of the President.

For the moment, let's just pray for this family and his loved ones. May he rest in peace.

[LintLass]

I see no reason to 'jump to the conclusion' that whoever murdered this man harassed and threatened him over his orientation, then suddenly found a completely *different* reason to murder him and dump the body on the edge of the base. This is the kind of spurious notion that people who try to oppose hate crimes protections use: claim hate crimes may not exist.

It's clear that the man was being harassed and threatened. It's clear that under DADT he pretty much had no recourse. It's clear he didn't deserve that, even if his death was actually over a candy bar or something.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

There are no facts to suggest that the murderer was or is the person who harassed him.

Nothing is clear except this was a soldier who was BLACK and GAY and who has been MURDERED. Everything else? Assumption.

[LintLass]

I'd also hold out the possibility, ...since toxicology is involved..­. What if he was driven to suicide, under those conditions? Does that change the landscape?

[We-Are-The-Ones]

I don't think there is anything to suggest suicide.

Just have to wait until facts are known and shown.

[LeeCalif]

http://www.10news.com/news/19920271/detail.html

[wijg]

Thanks for the link, Lee.

From the article: "Citing unnamed sources with access to a report on the seaman's death, Gomez said Provost was killed during an argument with another sailor over the victim's sexual orientatio­n."

After seeing how the military and government handled Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch, I doubt we'll ever get the truth.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

There was a lot of "may" and "probably" in the written report and the accompanying video.

Tillman and Lynch were murdered and injured, respectively, in a war theatre. Not this time and information may be more forthcoming.

I say wait to see what the facts are without speculation and anonymous sources. I imagine the family will tell, eventually.

Awful regardless.

[Mr. Cobb]

His name was August Provost.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

May he rest in peace.

May his family and loved one find solace.

[klandish]

Stop with the condolences and get activated on this issue or there will be NO peace. These people are homegrown Terrori sts the Military feels fine about enlisting. WAKE UP!