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Jackson Lee, NBJC, NAACP, Cong. Black Caucus Demand Investigation into Murder of August Provost

In an historic and perhaps unprecedented show of solidarity, the nation's leading black civil rights organizations join with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) to demand a congressional investigation into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton

The 29-year-old sailor from Houston was found brutally murdered on June 30. Provost was shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton because he was gay and black. The Navy maintains there is "no evidence" to suggest that this was a hate crime and insists it was "random act" of violence. Jackson-Lee—who represents greater Houston and has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign—made the initial calls on Tuesday. Now the congresswoman, other members and organizations are demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the national black LGBT advocacy organization, coordinated with the Black Leadership Forum, an alliance of over thirty national black civil rights and social service organizations, to denounce the incident. The member organizations include the NAACP—which has recently came out against California's Proposition 8—the Congressional Black Caucus, National Urban League, 100 Black Men,  and other leading groups. In denouncing the Provost murder and the slow response by Pentagon brass,  the groups said they "are joining forces to stand for equality and against discrimination and hatred toward ALL African-Americans."

The statement reads in part: "We are deeply troubled by the continuing pattern of incidents across the country—hate crimes, police misconduct, and racial intimidation—that are all-too-often tolerated and ignored by law enforcement officials and courts. Moreover, despite significant progress in the treatment of LGBT people, the targeting of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals remain a persistent and widespread problem in the US." The entire statement can be read here. 

The joint statement and call to action comes on the same day sources tell Rod 2.0 the Secretary of the Navy has dispatched 20 investigators to Pendleton. One "person of interest" remains in custody at nearby Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Two others are being sought. No formal charges are filed yet, and, there are unconfirmed reports the military is investigating a white supremacist angle.

Thanks JASPER, JASON BARTLETT and R

26 AIDS Activists Arrested in Capitol Hill Needle Exchange Protest

UPDATE: John Aravosis at AMERICAblog reports the "White House website pledge to support repeal of the federal ban on needle exchange appears to be gone."

Can't say you didn't see this coming. Capitol Hill Police arrest 26 HIV/AIDS who shut down the Capitol Rotunda to protest the Obama Administration's reversal on campaign promises to overturn the ban on funding needle exchange programs.

[Police] said the group entered the rotunda, located beneath the Capitol dome, and linked themselves together with a white chain at about 10 a.m. The area is usually crowded with tourists, but police restricted the traffic while they made arrests. The activists carried signs in support of funding for needle exchange, HIV/AIDS housing and programs aimed at fighting AIDS. They chanted, "Fight global AIDS now," and, "Clean needles save lives." They marched in a circle before lying down on the floor.

Omolola Adele-Oso of DC Fights Back questioned why lawmakers were bailing out financial institutions instead of devoting more dollars to AIDS programs. "HIV is not in a recession," Adele-Oso said in a written statement from the coalition about the demonstration.

As soon as two weeks after the election of President Barack Obama, Rod 2.0 reported the new Administration was backing away from campaign promises to overturn the ban. In May, the Administration reversed itself and banned federal funding for needle exchange programs in the FY 2010 budget this year.

Far from a recession, HIV/AIDS has dramatically increased in the inner cities and the South. Black gay men are the most likely to become infected with the virus. Perhaps the White House and Congress are just waiting for a "better time" and are "too busy" to fund needle exchange programs "now"?

Anthony Woods Raises More Than $100K in Q1 of CA-10 Campaign

Fabulous news to report on Anthony Woods. In the first two months of his first campaign, the West Point graduate who earned the Bronze Star serving in Iraq and discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy has raised more than $100,000 for the recently scheduled Special Election in California’s 10th Congressional District.

Woods is running to replace the outgoing Rep. Ellen Tauscher in the East Bay. For the fundraising quarter that ended June 30th, the two tour Iraq War Veteran also recruited more than 800 donors, more than "more than twice the number of donors as Lt. Governor John Garamendi", according to numbers released by the Garamendi.

Key to Woods fundraising success: The Facebook and Twitter generation. Woods has organized more than 4,700 supporters on Facebook, described as "more than every other CD 10 candidate combined."

If you have never heard Anthony Woods speak, he is incredible. AFTER THE JUMP, Woods talks to AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay. If you can, please donate to Anthony Woods' campaign or his ACTBlue page. Join Anthony Woods on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@Woods4Congress). Wouldn't it be great to have a member of Congress who is black, gay, a veteran and knew what it was like to grow up without health care?

Thanks LANE HUDSON (@TlaneHudson)

Conference Call

Running a little slow today obviously. Sitting in on a Senate conference call on health care and then have an intervieew. Will post after lunch.

Report: Secy of Navy Investigating Murder of Seaman August Provost

There are new developments in the investigation into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor from Houston brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. Sources close to the investigation report the Secretary of the Navy has dispatched an investigative team to Pendleton. Also, extremely disturbing  and graphic details have emerged of the so-called "random" act of violence.

The official request for an investigation of the August Provost murder was made by San Diego's Democratic Congresswoman Susan Davis, the Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel. The source says Secretary of the Navy Raymond Mabus "has sent 20 investigators to Camp Pendleton."

The 29-year-old sailor was found brutally murdered in a guard shack at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on June 30. Provost was shot three times and the structure was burned. Although the Navy has denied specific reports made to Rod 2.0 in a recent article at TIME.com, and claimed Seaman Provost was not tortured, relatives say they were told Provost's "hands and feet were tied, he was gagged, shot three times and his body had been set on fire."

Rose Roy, Provost's aunt who lives outside Houston, said "Provost spoke with her about being harassed and ostracized at Camp Pendleton because he was gay and black." The Navy maintains there is "no evidence" to suggest that this was a hate crime and insists it was "random act" of violence.

Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban Chula Vista, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate, too, and asked the Defense Department and Marine Corps to determine whether the killing was a hate crime. Filner added: "There's some disturbing elements to this. He was harassed in the days leading up to this."

One "person of interest" remains in custody. Two others are being sought. No formal charges are filed yet.

Roy says it was about a year ago when her nephew told her and his superiors he was being harassed because he was black and gay. San Diego City Commissioner Stampp Corbin, who also is black and gay, has been closely following the investigation and says Provost's lack of recourse is a direct result of the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Commissioner Corbin tells Rod 2.0: "August Provost, and others like him, are often harassed because of the perception they are gay or lesbian, not because of homosexual conduct. If August reported the harassment, would that have been "telling" and therefore lead to a discharge? That is the quandary gay and lesbian military personnel face in these situations."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, who represents Houston, says she will demand a congressional inquiry into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III. Provost will be buried tomorrow at Veterans Memorial Cemetery. A candlelight vigil will also take place on Friday at 7:30 pm outside Camp Pendelton.

Carl Walker-Hoover's Mother Testifies Before House Committee

Sirdeaner Walker says her "life changed forever on April 6, 2009", the night she was cooking dinner and went upstairs to discover her son Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover hanged himself with an electrical cord. Although at 11-years-old Carl did not identify as "gay", the promising student and athlete who attended New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, Massachusetts had been subjected to months of relentless anti-gay bullying.

Walker, who has used these months to channel her grief into raising awareness on bullying, testified before Congress today in the first hearings on the Safe Schools Improvement Act. Transcript at GLSEN. "What could make a child his age despair so much that he would take his own life?," Walker asked members of the House Education Committee. "That question haunts me to this day, and I will probably never know the answer. What we do know is that Carl was being bullied relentlessly in school."

The mother says the children at school were "pushing him around, calling him names, saying he acted 'gay,' and calling him 'faggot'." Walker told the committee: "I was furious. So I called the school right away and told them about the situation. I expected they would be just as upset as I was, but instead, they told me it was just ordinary social interaction that would work itself out. I desperately wish they had been right. But it just got worse. By March, other kids were threatening to kill him."

Sirdeaner Walker says the school acted "like it was Carl's problem" and "did not know how to respond." AFTER THE JUMP, via Pam's House Blend, watch the riveting testimony of this brave woman. How many more young boys, such as Jaheem Herrera, will take their own lives as Carl did as they are "initiated" into "manhood"?

Oguchi Onyewu Joins A.C. Milan

The major news in sports: Rod 2.0 fave and soccer hotness Oguchi Onyewu, a key member of the U.S. national team that reached the Confederations Cup finals in South Africa, joins super-team AC Milan on a three-year contract.

Steven Goff at the Washington's Post describes this as "an absolutely huge move for Onyewu and really for U.S. soccer." Goff adds Onyewu becomes the only second American ever and "the first in ten years" to join Italy's famed Serie A league.

Onyewu, 27, played with Belgium's Standard Liege from 2004 to 2009.  U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley adds: "It’s very exciting. It’s one of the great clubs in the world. It’s a terrific opportunity for him, and certainly the experience that he’ll get there I think will be really important as we move forward with our national team."

Oguchi anchored the U.S. back when the team upset Spain, the No. 1-ranked team in the world, at the Confederations Cup semifinal.  Here's looking forward to the Gooch's exciting move to Milan and many more shirtless celebrations on the field.

Thansk KASE

Anti-Gay Pastor Says His Beliefs Will Not Influence Role as Alderman

An update to the story of Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, the influential anti-gay Chicago evangelical minister who is being considered by Mayor Richard Daley for a vacant alderman seat. Despite his noted public opposition to gay rights, De Jesus tells the Tribune he will "not not let his religious beliefs influence his policy making."

To reinforce his point, he even pledged to seek city funds for a proposed homeless shelter for gay teens in Humboldt Park. 'I would tell [critics]: Isn't it ironic that you're asking me to be tolerant and you're intolerant to my beliefs. How is that? [De Jesus] said. 'We already know there are differences. Let's put that to the side. What's hurting our community today? Let's focus on that.'

Much of the opposition to De Jesus stems from previous public statements and information on the church's Web site. In an interview last year, De Jesus told Christianity Today that his paramount priorities were opposing abortion and homosexuality. In a neighborhood newspaper story about a proposed new high school geared toward gay students, De Jesus raised the specter of a virgin being harassed by gays or lesbians to have sex.

And a member of De Jesus' congregation posted a testimonial on the church Web site about how she 'started doing drugs, drinking, partying, gang banging, fighting and hanging with the wrong crowd. I also lived a lifestyle of homosexuality and sexual immorality.' Through the church, she wrote, "I was delivered from homosexuality, anger, bitterness and resentment.'"

De Jesus is the senior pastor of 4,000-member New Life Covenant Ministries, which is affiliated with the charasmatic and very anti-gay Assemblies of God/Pentecostal movement. The Tribune also claims "some gay residents [say] De Jesus' record of community service should trump any concerns about his religious views." None were quoted by name and it's difficult to imagine they would be welcome at De Jesus' church.

Julio Rodriguez, president of the Association of Latino Men for Action, a Chicago-based gay advocacy group, disputes De Jesus' statements that his religious views are irrelevant.  Rodriguez tells the Tribune:  "We don't see how someone who has such a strong foundation with his church can separate his belief system [from] his public role, even though he thinks he can."

Mayor Daley has until August 1 to fill the 26th Ward City Council seat, which was vacated when former Ald. Bill Ocasio became an adviser to Gov. Pat Quinn.

Pastor Who Opposes Homosexuality May Get Chicago City Council Seat Held by Ald. Billy Ocasio [Trib]

Some Background...
Will An Anti-Gay Minister Be Appointed as a Chicago Alderman? [R20]

Jackson-Lee to Call for Congressional Investigation into Death of August Provost

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) will demand a congressional inquiry into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, a black gay sailor from Houston, reports KHOU-TV.

The 29-year-old sailor was found brutally murdered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton on June 30. Provost was shot three times and his body burned. Family members of August Provost say he had ongoing problems with fellow servicemen, and they suspect he was killed because he was gay. The Navy says there is "no evidence" to suggest that this was a hate crime.

Eight days after the death of Seaman Provost, authorities still have a "person of interest" in custody. No charges have been filed and no motive announced.

The announcement by Jackson-Lee—who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign—comes at the same time other members of the Congress are pressing for action. Sources tell Rod 2.0 the Congressional Black Caucus, National Black Justice Coalition, NAACP, and the Black Leadership Forum are making a joint statement demanding a full investigation by the Department of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy. Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says his panel will investigate, too. Filner wants also wants DoD and the Marine Corps to investigate whether the killing of the sailor was a hate crime.

Meanwhile, funeral arrangements have been finalized for the Houston native who was brutally killed at Camp Pendleton. The viewing for August Provost will be Friday, July 10 at 10 am. at Wright Grove Baptist Church in Houston. Provost will be buried at Veterans Memorial Cemetery. A candlelight vigil will also take place on Friday at 7:30 pm outside Camp Pendelton.

"Madea" Actor/Singer Terrell Carter Outed by Ex-Boyfriend

Terrell Carter, the talented singer and actor who starred in a number of Tyler Perry's "Madea" productions, becomes the second black male celebrity outed in the last two weeks. 

Carter starred in Tyler Perry’s Class Reunion and Meet the Browns, as well as the screen adaptation of TP's Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Carter was also in the "What's Done in the Dark" plays. The six foot five, dark and lovely actor with the phenomenal voice also has quite the phenomenal physique, which made him all the more popular among female audiences.

Alex Cortez, the apparent ex-boyfriend seen above and below, posted the pictures across the intenets, starting with the hugely popular Lipstick Alley mesageboard, then moving onto his MySpace and Twitter accounts to blast his ex. Cortez (@Model is Cute) Tweets: "Hell yeah i’m angry!…there are fucked up ppl out there no matter how nice they seem to be & it’s their fault, ppl they harm are bitter!"

The black gossip blogs are in their usual feeding freezy over rumors. MediaTakoeut.com has 450 comments, mostly negative. Popular black celebrity blogger Sandra Rose reported on Carter's rumored sexuality last year, stating the handsome singer was involved with Noah's Arc actor Christian Vincent. "All I can say is there are photos for sale. And I will leave it at that." Rose was also one of the first to break this story and wryly observed what is surely an open secret in black Hollywood: "Just because Terrell once starred in a Tyler Perry film means nothing. Only 99% of the actors in Tyler’s movies are gay. Terrell might be in that tiny 1% minority who isn’t gay."

Terrell Carter is the second black male celebrity outed in the last ten days. Reality star Dorion Standberry (BET's College Hill)  was blasted ten days across the internets, also by an ex-boyfriend seeking revenge. Although Rod 2.0 had advance knowledge of both stories, we chose not to report the first one, and, took our time posting the Carter outing. Look at the picture above with the couple kissing and it's obvious Terrell Carter trusted this man. I'm all for gay men, especially black gay men, to come out of the closet. But if you're outed kicking and screaming, or by a jealous or scorned lover, it probably does more harm than good.

WHEN YOU JUMP, via Black Celebrity Men, Terrell Carter seen on Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, partying with the boyz during Pride. If you've got it, flaunt it.

UPDATE: There may be much more to this story. Some damaging personal allegations have been made. Let's not discuss until some confirmation.

Thanks LOWKEY SHAWTY and JEFFERY

Mahmoud Ahmadeinjad: Iran Election "Most Free Anywhere"

Really? Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad—whose "re-election" last month has been challenged by opponents and triggered global outrage—dismisses critics and said the balloting was "the most free election anywhere in the world."

Said Ahmadenijad in a nationally televised event: "It was a great event. ... No fault was discovered. The whole nation understood this."

The apparently rigged June 12 "election"  was followed by days of street demonstrations and massive civil unrest that led to the deaths of at least 20 protesters and the arrest of more than 1,000, according to state-owned media. Iranian opposition leaders are demanding the immediate release of hundreds of people arrested in a crackdowns and denounced the "brutal attacks" by security forces.

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Russian Gay Activists Cancel Obama Moscow Protest

The protest scheduled today by Russian gay activists supporting gay rights and same-sex marriage—in the United States and Russia—in front of the United States Embassy has been canceled due to safety concerns, Reuters reports.

City authorities said last week they had refused a request by gay activists to protest because they said another group had already booked the area in front of the U.S. embassy and that most Muscovites were against the demonstration. [...]

Activists, though, said they would protest anyway, running the risk of clashes with police. But Monday Nikolai Alexeyev, one of their leaders, said they had canceled the protest. "In the context of another unlawful ban by the authorities on a public event as well as the special measures taken in the Russian capital during the visit by U.S. President Barack Obama, we have decided to cancel the event due to concerns over the safety of our members," he said in a statement.

President Barack Obama arrived in Moscow on Monday. There is very high security throughout the Russian capital.

Russia has been criticized by the State Department for its widespread human rights violations. This includes repressive anti-gay measures that are often state-sponsored, such as the Moscow's riot police violent dispersal of a gay rights protest in June.

Some Background...
Russian Gay Activists to Protest Obama in Moscow [R20]
Riot Police Violently Break Up Moscow Gay Pride Rally [R20]
State Department Criticizes Jamaica and Nigeria for "Widespread" Human Rights Violations of Gays [R20]