Rod 2.0:Beta

NBJC Names Straight Ally Sharon Lettman as Executive Director

The National Black Justice Coalition, the country's only nationwide black LGBT civil rights organization, has named its new executive director. Sharon J. Lettman succeeds Alexander Robinson and Dr. Sylvia Rhue, who has served as the interim ED since June. And this is major: Lettman is a straight ally and becomes the only straight black woman running a major black LGBT organization.

Lettman has impressive progressive credentials. She comes to NBJC after eight years at People For the American Way and People For the American Way Foundation. Letterman spearheaded the African American Religious Affairs Program at PFAWF that addressed homophobia in the black church. The Gill Foundation highlighted her in its 2008 annual report as a "key ally" to the LGBT equality movement.

Lettman says: "We must bring our families together. Gay and transgender people are our children, our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, parents, co-workers and friends. They are a vital part of the black community, and it is time for everyone to recognize the real issues we all face when our brothers and sisters are denied full participation in the life of our community."

NBJC Deputy Director Jason W. Bartlett, who made history as the first openly gay black state legislator in the nation when he was elected to the Connecticut assembly in February 2008, tells Rod 2.0 that hiring a straight ally to lead the NBJC was the right thing to do. "NBJC is poised to go to another level. The question was, 'Who could bring us there?' Sharon is fierce in her advocacy and I am convinced she can open a few doors, She can begin the conversation especially with black women. As one of the few [black gay] elected officials in this country, nobody understands this better, you have to build bridges to the straight black community and deal with homophobia. Sharon can be our bridge."

In recent months the National Black Justice Coalition has made inroads working with straight black allies. In July, it became the first black LGBT organization to address the NAACP's annual convention. NAACP also announced an LGBT Equality Task Force partnership with the group. NBJC also coordinated with NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus to demand a congressional investigation into the death of Navy Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton.

Lettman's appointment makes a strong statement about making inroads with the larger black community and building potential bridges to the black church. They're desperately needed. Congratulations to Sharon Lettman and the NBJC.

Thanks: Donna P @ HRC, Jason B @ NBJC. Kellee and Cindi @ GLAAD

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Report: August Provost Murder Suspect was on "Suicide Watch"

Yet another twist in the investigation into the murder of Seaman August Provost. The Navy now admits the petty officer charged with murdering the Camp Pendleton sailor who committed suicide over the weekend ... was on suicide watch, reports the Associated Press.

Jonathan Campos was under video surveillance because he'd made two previous suicide attempts. [He] was on suicide watch when he apparently stuffed toilet paper in his mouth and suffocated Friday. 

Pendleton spokeswoman Maj. Kristen Lasica-Khaner said Monday that a guard visually checked Campos every five minutes as Navy regulations require. However, there may have been a 36-minute gap between physical inspections. The base is investigating.

On Sunday, the Navy maintained it will continue investigating the homicide even after the suspect's suicide. Now the reasons become more obvious.

Twenty-nine-year-old Seaman August Provost of Houston, who gay and out to family and some coworkers, was gunned down in a Pendleton guard shack on June 30. The shack also was set on fire. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. The Navy says there is "no evidence" of a hate crime.

Campos was accused of a month-long crime spree that included murder, solicitation off murder, drugs and weapons violations, and breaking and entering.

If the suspect in a drug- and alcohol-fueled crime spree was in on "video surveillance" and "suicide watch", how exactly was he allowed to kill himself? Why were there gaps in the "surveillance"? And how was one man able to allegedly storm a United States military installation? Perhaps Jonathan Campos' suicide was very convenient, because we may never learn what really happened that night at Guard Shack 3.

Thanks STEVE ROTHAUS/MIAMI HERALD

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Navy: Probe of Seaman August Provost's Murder Remains Open

Good news on the investigation into the murder of Seaman August Provost. The Navy will continue investigating the homicide even after the suspect's weekend suicide.

San Diego Union Tribune: "Navy spokesman Brian O'Rourke says the military owes answers to the family of 29-year-old Seaman August Provost of Houston, who was shot in a Camp Pendleton guard shack on June 30. The shack also was set on fire.

Petty Officer Jonathan Campos was arrested the night of the murder and charged last week. Campos reportedly suffocated himself Friday afternoon after toilet paper was stuffed in his mouth.

Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. Provost's family believes he was killed partly because of his sexual orientation. One relative suggested an "emotionally disturbed" and "deeply closeted" fellow sailor that feared being outed was responsible for killing Provost.

The Navy maintains Provost's death had nothing to do with his sexuality. Campos was accused of a month-long crime spree that included murder, solicitation off murder, drugs and weapons violations, and breaking and entering. The military investigation was sharply criticized by family members and several members of Congress.

Will we ever learn what really happened that night at Guard Shack 3 at Camp Pendleton?

Navy: Suspect in August Provost's Death Commits Suicide

The U.S. Navy says the sailor charged with the murder of Seaman August Provost has committed suicide in the brig at Camp Pendleton.

The Naval news release says 32-year-old Petty Officer Jonathan Campos, of Lancaster, California was found "unresponsive in his cell" Friday at about 12:20 PM. He was rushed to the base hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The apparent cause of death was asphyxiation.

Campos was charged with murder and many other offenses in the June 30 death of Seaman Provost, a 29-year-old seaman from Houston, who was shot several times in the sentry station at Camp Pendleton.. Provost's body was set on fire at his guard post. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. Provost's family believes he was killed partly because of his sexual orientation.

The Navy says Provost's death was not a hate crime—but the result of a one month "crime spree" allegedly committed by Campos. 

Thanks JAMES M, AARON and RAVENBACK!

More Charges on Seaman August Provost's Murder, Possible Motive in Sailor Suspect's "Crime Spree"

The Navy has filed a laundry list of violations against the sailor charged in the brutal shooting murder of Boatswain’s Mate Seaman August Provost, the black gay sailor killed while on duty at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th. The alleged crime spree reportedly committed Petty Officer Jonathan C. Campos—including murder, solicitation off murder, drugs and weapons violations—reads like the sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Natural Born Killers. The Navy Compass:

Charges preferred include alleged violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the military’s governing law code, over a period from May 1 to July 1 including: murder of Boatswain’s Mate Seaman August Provost III by shooting him with a pistol; use of illegal psilocybin mushrooms; breaking and entering into a private residence, and stealing electronic equipment, jewelry and a .45 caliber pistol; driving under the influence of alcohol; attempt to commit arson; wrongful possession of firearms; unlawful entry; unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon; stealing military property; arson; unlawful handling of a deceased individual; solicitation of a civilian to murder another Navy sailor, a Master at Arms assigned to ACU FIVE and to vandalize the sailor’s house; and unauthorized absence.

The 29-year-old Provost's body was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, reportedly bound, and his body burned. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black.

The Navy maintains this was not a hate crime and offers an alternative motive that dovetails previous Rod 2.0 reports: Provost was allegedly killed when a fellow servicemember, intent upon vandalizing a hovercraft,  tried to "rush" the guard shack. Authorities now reveal the 32-year-old suspect also knew Provost and served in the same unit—Assault Craft Unit FIVE—and was about to reprimanded for DUI. Campos has been in custody three weeks and military brass initially said this was a "random" act of violence.

The big question: How well Provost know Campos? Is the petty officer accused in this drug- and alcohol-fueled crime spree the "emotionally disturbed" and "deeply closeted" fellow sailor that allegedly feared being outed and threatened Provost? How and why are United States military personnel AWOL for weeks and soliciting the murders of civilians?

Thanks AUTUMN SANDEEN at PHB

Navy Charges Sailor in Seaman August Provost Murder, Suspect Reportedly "Went on Crime Spree"

DEVELOPING. The Navy announces a sailor has been charged in connection with the brutal shooting murder of Seaman August Provost, the black gay sailor killed while on duty at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th. The military claims this was part of a "crime spree" but no motive has been provided.

Texas Cable News reports: "Johnathon C. Campos is charged with 16 crimes, including murder. The Navy says he also tried to solicit the murder of another sailor. The sailor was arrested on July 1, but charges weren't filed until Thursday. The Navy said Campos went on a crime spree in late May that included burglary and arson."

The 29-year-old Provost's body was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, reportedly gagged and bound, and his body burned. Authorities said someone "tried to light a fire" at the guard shack but have not confirmed whether Provost was burned. The family confirms and adds the military originally did not tell them this was a homicide and neglected to reveal the manner of death.

Seaman Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. The family maintains the killing was a hate crime. The Navy says it is not.

Several motives have been speculated. Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has previously said the Navy told him that Provost was killed when someone tried to "rush" the guard shack.  This dovetails into unconfirmed reports Provost was killed by a fellow servicemember who wanted to vandalize a hovercraft. Last weekend, an aunt had another theory, telling the Dallas Voice an "emotionally disturbed" and deeply closeted gay sailor who feared outing was behind the brutal killing.

The North County Times has the bio and the laundry list of charges against the 32-year-old suspect, described as a gas system technician and facing "murder, arson, unlawful entry, unlawful possession of a firearm and a host of other charges." 

Thanks CHRISTOPHER GEIDNER/LAW DORK and LT. RICE

Navy: "No Time Limit" on August Provost Investigation, "Person of Interest" Can Be Held Indefinitely

New developments in the brutal killing of Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found murdered at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th. Three weeks after the Navy seaman was found shot to death and his body burned, the Navy still has not decided if the case is "serious enough" to go before the military equivalent of a grand jury.

Navy Region Southwest spokesman Matt Brown tells KPBS-TV "there’s no time limit" on the investigation which remains under the authority of Provost's former commander—not the Pentagon.

“The commander of Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU 5) will determine, based on the information provided by investigators, if this is a case that perhaps should be considered by a higher level review, such as a general court martial,” says Brown.

A suspect is being held in the brig on Camp Pendleton. Brown says under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, he can be held indefinitely, as long as investigators can show a military judge they are aggressively pursuing the case.

The 29-year-old Provost's body was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. The seaman told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. The Navy says the torture, shooting and burning was not related to the victim's sexuality and was a "random act" of violence. Over the weekend, the late sailor's aunt advanced a new theory, that her nephew’s killer is gay and feared being outed by Provost.

Several congressmen, including San Diego's Bob Filner (D), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and Sheila Jackson-Lee, who represents the family, want independent investigations.

If there is "no time limit" on the investigation and the "person of interest" can be held without charges "indefinitely", will we ever learn who killed August Provost and why? And if the shooting, torture and burning of a United States Seaman is not "serious enough" for a general court martial, what is?

Thanks REP. JACKSON LEE's OFFICE!

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Did a Closeted Gay Sailor Kill Seaman August Provost?

Was an emotionally disturbed and deeply closeted gay sailor behind the brutal killing of Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found murdered at Camp Pendleton near San Diego on June 30th? The slain sailor's aunt comes forward and says her nephew’s killer is gay and feared being outed by Provost, reports the Dallas Voice.

Rose Roy, of Beaumont, the sister of Provost’s father, said in a phone interview Tuesday, July 14 that she’s “not at liberty” to identify the source who provided the information to the family. But Roy said the source told the family Provost had a heated argument with the suspect a week before his murder, and that the sailor now being held as a person of interest by the Navy has a history of mental illness.

"This guy went the extra mile to make sure that my nephew would never be able to speak about his [the killer’s] sexuality," Roy said. "My nephew died for reasons other than what the military is saying."

Neither Provost’s other family members nor his partner, identified as Kaether Cordero of Houston, could be reached for comment this week.

The person of interest being held identified by the Navy and has not yet been charged with any crime.

The new theory departs from previous claims made by Rose Roy and other family members that Provost’s murder was an anti-gay hate crime. Provost reportedly told numerous family members he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. Under the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, if Provost reported the homophobic harassment, that would have been considered "telling" and lead to immediate discharge,

The 29-year-old Provost was discovered in a guard shack on the morning of June 30, shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. The Navy says the torture, shooting and burning was not related to the victim's sexuality and was a "random act" of violence. The Navy reportedly did not initially tell the family this was a homicide and neglected to reveal the manner of death.

The military "investigation" raises more questions than answers, says Rep. Bob Filner (D) of suburban San Diego, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Filner tells the Dallas Voice: "They keep saying they know it’s not a hate crime, but they don’t give me enough information for me to agree with that or not. If they don’t do it right, we will have an independent congressional inquiry."

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee—who has a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign—represents Houston and Provost's family.  Jackson Lee says she will demand a congressional inquiry into the case. The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and the National Black Justice Coalition and are also monitoring the case.

Under military rules, the person of interest can be held without charges indefinitely. Will we ever learn who killed August Provost and why?

Benjamin Jealous: NAACP Doesn't Take a Position on Gay Marriage

This week, the NAACP celebrates its centennial, marking 100 years as the nation's oldest and arguably most high profile civil rights organization. President Barack Obama will address the conference on Thursday.

Long indifferent on LGBT rights and concerns, the NAACP has made some strides under Benjamin Todd Jealous, the newest and youngest president of the civil rights group. In February, for the first time ever, the national board of the NAACP took a position on marriage equality and called for the overturn of California's Proposition 8. And of course, National Board Chair Julian Bond—who has an excellent record on LGBT rights and marriage equality. But when will the group take a national position on gay rights and marriage, CNN's T.J. Holmes asked jealous over the weekend.

Jealous told CNN: "We don't take a position on that nationally."

JEALOUS: We have been steadfast advocates for the basic civil rights of gay people, making sure that, for instance, hate-crimes protection is extended to gay people. ... We want to make sure that - that our children and our family members who are gay is - basic civil rights and human rights are protected.

HOLMES: Is that not considered then, in you all's estimation, a civil rights? Some would call it that kind of civil right, a - a issue of equality, a gay person being able to marry who they want to marry?

JEALOUS: That's a very tense debate inside our association. You know, and there have been branches and state conferences - like, for instance, in California and San Francisco, come out very clearly on the issue. There are others, some of our national board members for instance, from the Midwest, who have taken an entirely opposite position. We're a democratic, small 'd,' organization, where issues are debated until a consensus is reached. And that one is very much still under debate amongst the membership of the association.

It's also worth noting despite the NAACP's recent movement on Prop 8 and August Provost—the black gay sailor found brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton—the organization is still largely controlled by the black churches and ministers. Such as Rev. Keith Ratliff, Iowa's leading black pastor and the anti-gay chair of the Iowa/Nebraska chapter. Perhaps this explains why there are no seminars or topics on LGBT rights at this year's conference, and, HIV/AIDS is only mentioned as far as its impact on black women. 

AFTER THE JUMP, via Queer Isn't It?, watch Benjamin Jealous discuss the NAACP, gay rights and marriage equality. There is also some personal reflection by Jealous on growing up biracial, and, having a longtime friend who is gay (or transgender?). Jealous tells Holmes: "I've seen the homophobia he experienced in the black community. I've seen the racism he experienced in the gay community. No one should have to hide their identity."

August Provost's Family: Military Said Murdered Sailor was "Found Unconscious", Not Shot Three Times

More details to suggest the United States Navy is not forthcoming in the case of Seaman August Provost III, the black gay sailor found brutally murdered at Camp Pendleton on June 30th. The family offers a very disturbing timeline, saying the military did not tell them this was a homicide and neglected to reveal the manner of death. 

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, who represents Houston and Provost's family, tells the Houston Chronicle: "I am requesting a full investigation into the murder. This death appears bizarre, and more facts need to be uncovered."

Provost's mother, Melanie Provost, said Sunday the military originally told her simply that her son had been found unconscious in the guard shack and later died. "The only way I found out my son had been shot and burned was on TV," she said. Her son had mentioned to her before he died that he was being harassed by some fellow sailors, but he handled it stoically, she said.

Jackson Lee said the incident should lead the military to be less tolerant of similar harassment. "If he was being harassed, why was the bad behavior being covered up? Why was the person still there?" Jackson Lee said. The congresswoman would like to see the military's “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy toward gay service members lifted, but says other changes are needed to prevent discrimination of all kinds. Family members say that policy played a part in Provost's poor treatment in the Navy, however.

"Because of ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' he couldn't say anything," said his niece, Keonna Johnson-Jones. "He couldn't go to his superiors."

Provost was shot three times, apparently gagged and bound, and his body burned. Provost told his family he was harassed and ostracized at Pendleton for at least a year because he was gay and black. The family belives the 29-year-old Provost was the victim of a hate crime—and the Navy says the torture, shooting and burning of a sailor at military base was a "random act" of violence.

The seaman was laid to rest with full military honors on Friday.

If the United States Navy will not even tell Seaman Provost's family how their son died in the line of duty, do we really believe their so-called "investigation" will yield the "truth"?