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One Year Anniversary of the Murder of Seaman August Provost

Navy Seaman August Provost III was killed one year ago today.

The 29-year-old sailor from Houston, who gay and out to family and some co-workers, was brutally murdered at the sentry station at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, on June 30 2009. Provost was shot three times, had his hands and feet bound, his mouth gagged, and body burned. The shack also was set on fire. The Provost family later told the media the military initially did not tell them this was a homicide and also neglected to reveal the manner of death.

Provost had confided to his family that he was harassed and ostracized for at least a year because he was gay and black. Provost's sister suggested he tell a supervisor—unfortunately not an option for gay and lesbian servicemembers due to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Despite the torture and brutal murder, the military  maintained from the beginning this was a "random act of violence" and there was "no evidence" to believe it was a hate crime.

Petty Officer Jonathan C. Campos, who was served in Provost's unit, was arrested the night of the murder and charged almost one month later. Campos was accused of a bizarre, month-long crime spree that included murder, solicitation of murder, drugs and weapons violations. The military investigation was sharply criticized by family members and several members of Congress, most notably Sheila Jackson Lee, who later called for a congressional investigation. It never happened.

Campos committed suicide in the brig at the Camp Pendleton on July 31. The military later admitted that Campos was under video surveillance because he'd made two previous suicide attempts. The surveillance was allowed to lapse. The military announced it would "investigate".

David Badash at the New Civil Rights Movement: 'The circumstances surrounding this murder are ghastly, but the Navy’s response [is] ghastly as well. The military [investigation] is evidence that the military cannot possibly be trusted to police [or] investigate itself when it comes to gay soldiers and gay rights. Which leads us to ask how the military will handle integration of openly gay and lesbian servicemembers into its ranks."

Will we ever learn the truth about Seaman August Provost's murder?

Rod 2.0's complete coverage HERE.

WATCH: Kagan Asked About Gay Marriage, Twilight's Edward v Jacob

Day 3 of the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings. The Supreme Court nominee was asked by socially conservative and anti-gay Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley if marriage "is a question reserved for the states to decide." Kagan declined to comment.

Minnesota's Sen. Amy Klobuchar also posed a question on the "famous case of Edward vs. Jacob, or, the vampire vs. the werewolf." "I wish you wouldn't," Kagan laughed.

As if there's any contest. Watch both clips WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Suspect Cleared in Fatal San Francisco Gay Pride Shooting

Flickr: Chris Rusak

An update to Saturday night's unfortunate shooting during San Francisco's Pink Saturday celebrations in the Castro. The man arrested on suspicion of opening fire on the crowd and killing a 19-year-old has been cleared, reports the Mercury News.

"Ed Perkins, 20, was charged late this afternoon with possessing a concealed weapon and possessing a loaded weapon, but officials do not believe he is responsible for the shooting, the district attorney's office said. Police arrested Perkins after he was found near the crime scene in possession of a .357-caliber revolver, and he was initially charged with one count of murder and several firearms violations. Investigators, however, have determined none of the seven shots fired into the crowd were from Perkins' weapon, and no witnesses were able to put Perkins at the scene, the district attorney's office said. Police are still looking for a suspect in the shooting."

Two bystanders were also shot and are expected to soon recover.

There is another and unfortunate update to the story. On Monday, two men were shot while attending a vigil for Stephen Powell, the teenager who was gunned down at the weekend gay pride event. The injuries are not said to be life-threatening. Police say all of the shootings were gang-related.

PHOTOS: Kele Okereke Buffs Up and Makes a Big Splash for "Attitude"

Kele Okereke continues to publicly explore his sexuality ... this time as the buffed coverboy of the latest issue of Attitude, the glossy UKL homostyle magazine. The brilliant, 1980s "B-Boy" inspired bright colored editorial is lensed by fashion photographer Ellis Parrinder.

The Bloc Party frontman talks about his new solo album The Boxer, sexuality ... and sex. "I can't tell you the amount of times I've been approached by heterosexual men that identify with a straight lifestyle. I am a very sexual person. Sex is something that I have enjoyed since I was a teenager. I've had a lot of sex." 

Okereke also discusses the gay men that he admires, such as James Baldwin, Freddie Mercury of Queen, Rupaul and the many late and ballroom personalities in Paris is Burning. "I watched it again a few years ago on YouTube. As soon as it finished started crying. You go to Wikipedia and all bar one are dead. And they died in such sad circumstances. But you watch the fil;m and they all have so much love."

Kele Okereke is not the magazine's first black cover but he becomes its first black openly gay cover. The cover and more images AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIRTUAL PANEL: LGBT Bloggers on Race, Sexuality and Pop Culture

Kai Wright, the editor of ColorLines, invited Pam Spaulding of Pam's House Blend, Miriam Zoila Pérez of Feministing and myself to participate in "Queer Blogger Roundtable: What's the Future?", a virtual discussion on LGBT online media, race, sexuality, pop culture and the Obama Administration. The discussion is getting lots of feedback on Twitter, Facebook and at ColorLines.

Here is one exchange:

It's still conventional wisdom both inside and out of LGBT circles that Black and Latino neighborhoods and families are exceptionally homophobic. How do you answer that when you hear it?

PAM: I give an honest answer: yes and no. In black and Latino communities, the matter is not completely about race, per se, it's about whether you're talking churched or unchurched. Religion is by far more important than race when it comes to fomenting homophobia, however, the black and Latino communities at large have not held publicly accountable the pastors stoking anti-gay sentiment. That's going to take time to change. 

MIRIAM: What gets me most about this blame game around homophobia is the role that white communities--primarily through the history of colonization--have had in the homophobia that exists in the communities of color. You can see this even more clearly internationally, but in immigrant communities here as well. In many (if not most) communities of color, there is a vibrant history of sexual and gender diversity. Think of two spirit folks in Native American communities, hijras in India, etc. It was often the colonial powers that came in (with strong religious agendas) and stamped out much of that culture of diversity and acceptance. Now white folks are coming back around to sexual diversity and they're finger pointing at communities of color? Oh hell no.

ROD: The largely white evangelicals and Mormons have surely taken homophobia to new levels. And black folks ain't voting Republican, you know? They might not call you a "fag" in the suburbs, but your neighbors will often vote against your rights in a heartbeat.

Read the full discussion at ColorLines ...

There's also a good conversation at Pam's House Blend ...

Oh and ignore the over-exposed passport photo ...

Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules 7-0 to Uphold Same Sex Marriage Ban

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has delivered a unanimous ruling that upholds the state's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, reports the Washington Post.

"In a 7-0 ruling, the court ruled that the 2006 constitutional amendment was properly put to voters in a statewide referendum. The court rejected a lawsuit that claimed the amendment violated a rule that limits referendum questions to a single subject. The lawsuit, filed by a voter opposed to the amendment, argued that gay marriage and civil unions were two different subjects. Justice Michael Gableman says both sentences 'carry out the same general purpose of preserving the legal status of marriage in Wisconsin as between only one man and one woman.'"

WCCO: "William McConkey, the Baileys Harbor man who brought the lawsuit, called the decision a blow to thousands of gays and lesbians. McConkey, a college instructor and father of a gay daughter, said the notion that banning same-sex unions protects traditional marriage is 'absurd and illogical under all examinations.'"

The decision does not affect Wisconsin's domestic partner registry. The DP registry was signed into law last year by Gov. Jim Doyle and offers limited rights to same sex couples.

RI Gov. Carcieri Vetoes Hate Crime Expansion to Incl. Gender Identity

Rhode Island's socially conservative Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri has vetoed HB 7044/SB 2055, which proposed the addition of gender identity or expression to the state's hate crimes statute, reports EDGE Boston.

"Carcieri vetoed the measure because he said the law already addresses actions "motivated by racial, religious, sexual orientation, gender or disability prejudice." ... Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders encouraged LGBT Rhode Islanders to urge their legislators to override Carcieri’s veto. 'It’s a simple bill but critical for protecting transgender citizens from violence and harassment - protection all Rhode Islanders deserve,' said GLAD executive director Lee Swislow in a statement. Other LGBT activists criticized the governor’s veto. 'The governor of [RI] has once again shown his disdain for LGBT Rhode Islanders, especially his utter lack of caring about transgender people who face immense harassment and violence based on how they present their gender,' said Susan Heroux of Queer Action. 'One wonders what the governor would do if one of his grandchildren turns out to be gay or transgender. Would he continue to not care about us?' The Family Research Council, however, praised Carcieri’s actions."

House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, who is black and openly gay, criticized the governor's action but added "no decision has been made" on a veto override.

Carcieri's veto is just the latest entry to a long résumé of anti-LGBT actions. Last November, the governor received national attention after his mean-spirited veto of a bill that granted funeral decision-making rights to same-sex couples. Rhode Island's legislature easily overrode the veto.

The governor’s term expires in January.

"Ex-Gay" Donnie McClurkin to Headline Boston's Gospel Fest

Grammy Award winning gospel singer and evangelist Donnie McClurkin will headline the City of Boston's Tenth Annual GospelFest on July 18, reports The Boston Phoenix. The free concert will be produced with taxpayer funds and will take place at City Hall Plaza.

The infamously "ex-gay"—or perhaps "re-closeted"—gospel singer delivered an incendiary rant against gay youth and recently out gospel singer Tonex at the Church of God in Christ's Holy Convocation Youth Service last November in Memphis. McClurkin's hateful rant went viral across the internet.  McClurkin compared LGBT youth to "vampires" and added: "I see feminine men, feminine boys, everywhere I go. These young girls are just as bad as the boys ... there are some evil young hard butch girls."

Mayor Tom Menino's office claims they were unaware of McClurkin's record, reports The Phoenix.

"Clearly, though, the choice of the Grammy-winning McClurkin for the free concert puts Menino in a bind, says local activist and Bay Windows columnist Reverend Irene Monroe. 'Our mayor is pro-gay and pro-same-sex marriage,' she says. Yet at the same time, McClurkin appeals to "the black Christian conservative community — which is a strong voting constituency." McClurkin and his 'ex-gay' message has no place at a taxpayer-funded community event, says Monroe. 'Our mayor and city hall represent all of its residents, not just Christian conservatives,' she says. 'It's fine to have a gospel singer, but given his history, it's a denunciation of inclusion.' Monroe also says there's little possibility that McClurkin could walk onto the City Hall Plaza stage and simply belt out his hits without discussing politics or his personal life. 'In gospel, it's not enough to just sing,' she says, 'We want to hear the narrative.'

At Donnie McClurkin's October 2008 performance in Barbados, the Pentecostal evangelist received "thunderous applause" after comparing gays to "drug dealers, prostitutes and gang members."

McClurkin has somewhat addressed the persistent rumors about his personal life. The gospel singer maintains he is no longer gay but recently suggested he still has same-sex urges, comparing homosexuality to diabetes: "I don’t eat sugar, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t want sugar."

Via: ChiTown Kev at Pam's House Blend

WATCH: Vanessa Williams Honored for Working with LGBT Youth

Vanessa Williams was honored at the 10th Annual Trevor Project New York Summer Gala last night. The actress has been a longtime supporter of The Trevor Project, which operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT youth.

Says the actress: "Support is what everyone needs in life. Regardless of being fortunate to have parents that are there for you, extended family or mentors."

Dustin Lance Black, B.D. Wong, Jason Mraz and Ally Sheedy were among those present. Sheedy, who co-starred in the now-classic Breakfast Club, announced that her daughter had just come out as lesbian. "So it's personal for me," Sheedy said.

In other Vanessa Williams news: In May, it was announced that Vanessa Williams would be joining the vast of ABC's Desperates Housewives. And last week a few details were leaked about her character, which will apparently be a former rival and now "feuding with Felicity Huffman’s super-fierce mom Lynette Scavo.'

And Ms. Williams is looking ferosh. A few photos and watch FOX 5's report WHEN YOU JUMP ...

430P on SIGNORILE: "The View" on "Down Low" Black Men and HIV

At 4:30ET, I'll be on The Michelangelo Signorile Show on Sirius XM to discuss the recent comments on The View made by D.L. Hughley and Sherri Shepherd and ABC's refusal to apologize.

Get a free 7-day pass and listen online any time at Sirius OUTQ109. If you have an iPhone or Blackberry, go to the app store and download Sirius XM for a free 7-day trial.