Instead of honoring the victim, The Gay and Lesbian Times chose to have the social columnist Nicole known for her ego and fictional approach to journalism write this commentary. I find it disgusting how Nicole was able to take the spotlight off of the victim and the crime against the GLBT community and place it on herself. Shame on The GLT and Nicole!

Another example of the culture of hate and fear that is engendered by the continued existence of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". It somehow allows individuals who have issues with homosexuals to justify their fear or hatred, resulting in this atmosphere that simply doesn't exist in the military services of other countries in which homosexuality is a non-issue. Take the example of the Israeli armed forces, the Dutch, and our neighbors to the north...countless others in whom the message is: "yes, there are gay men and women in the military, get over it". Let us hope that Obama can realize that the time is nigh to allow this talented and significant pool of individuals to have the right to their lives and to serve their country openly, and issue an executive order, along with the words: "Get over it"

Nicole this commentary deserves recognition for once again alerting the LGBT Community of something we really need to rally behind and come together on! Your sources for this piece were right on, other mainstream media is looking to this piece now for a foundation. Thank you Nicole!

Not proud who wrote in above needs to check his facts before just attacking personalities. Nicole was the one actually that brought this story to light, contacted Susan Davis and Bob Filner, who now have in turn launched a federal investigation. Thank god for Nicole. What have you done this week to better our community? I would love to know. Then I will take your opinion more seriously.

Were your real journalists on vacation? Oh thats right, you don't have real journalists, just hyper-ego, self-important, useless crap report the news. An 8 year old could write a better article.

Beth,
It's a shame you and many others believe the propaganda about Nicole being a great leader to be gay gospel.
The problem is the genderf#%k known as Nicole turns every GLBT issue into some sort of self promotion. No one is saying that Nicole did not play a role in bringing this story to the public, but Nicole is not a hero or the only spokesperson for the GLBT community.
A true hero and speaker for the community would not act under an overshadowing cloud of self promotion. True heroes wait for their acts of heroism to be brought into the spotlight by others. True community leaders place others before themselves. Many in the community are tired Nicole's self appointed titles and obvious self promotion.
The problem with this commentary is that Nicole spends a large portion of this article focusing on all she/he did rather than what the story should truly be about, the tragic death of a member of our community and the potential cover up of a hate crime.

Unfortunately, Camp Pendleton is under the jurisdiction of State Senator Mark Wyland who is a proud sponsor of the anti-gay Proposition 8. I wouldn't be surprised if there is an immediate attempt to cover this up as merely a crime but not a hate crime.

The last thing we need is more hate and derision.

How sad this loss of life was and thanks Nicloe for getting Filner involved, he will get to the end of it.

And to all the hate filled posters take the hate somewhere else we get it, you don't like Nicole, a young man has lost his life and all the trolls have is to blast someone with petty, catty bar stool putdowns.Nicole is getting this story out in the open and trying to get some help to get the killer and help the family get justice, just tacky, but typical of people who hide behind computers.

A vigil is being planned at Pendleton next Friday, July 10, at 7:30 PM to protest Seaman August Provost's murder and the failure of the military to scrap Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Stay tuned for more details. There will be car pooling.

Please remember just because the victim was gay does not immediately qualify this as a hate crime. Calling for an investigation is the priority here. Before falling prey to Nicole's panicked crys, let's wait until the facts are confirmed and a full investigation has been completed.
Please don't allow Nicole turn the passing of this young man into some sort of three ring media circus with himself in the center ring.

Wow, folks get off the boards, find your rep and senator as I have just done and WRITE them to let them know that you are aware of this incident, and they should be as well. Take that energy and DO something with it that can bring about positive change. (You can find your rep's contact info here... http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/)

Let them know that you want THEM PERSONALLY to have the results of the investigation available to and for you, let them know that you expect them to be well-versed in this issue, that you expect them to have an understanding of what their legislations, such as DADT, is helping to encourage. Give your reps no reason to not be successful, tell them exactly what you want them to do to show that they are working for you!!

And while you're at it, post the story, post your letter, post anything you can onto your Facebook or MySpace pages with regard to this occurrence and raise the awareness! Quit whining about the messenger and start focusing on the message... "the time for kumbaya is over..."

Navy investigates gay sailor's death in Calif.


The Associated Press
7:18 p.m. July 2, 2009

SAN DIEGO — The death of a gay sailor who was killed as he stood guard at Camp Pendleton doesn't appear to be a hate crime, officials said Thursday.
Seaman August Provost of Houston was found shot multiple times Tuesday in what investigators are calling a random act unrelated to the 29-year-old's sexuality.
"It is clear to the investigators right now that it could have been any sailor standing watch," Navy spokesman Capt. Matt Brown told The Associated Press.
Some in the gay community had called for a hate crimes probe. Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chairman of the San Diego Human Relations Commission, said Provost's family told her that personnel on the base had been harassing the sailor.
Earlier in the day, Democratic Rep. Bob Filner of San Diego, who chairs the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said he would call for a Defense Department probe to see if the killing was a hate crime.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has taken a "person of interest" into custody but had not filed any charges. Navy officials said he had made incriminating statements that tied him to the killing, though these statements did not constitute a confession.
Another sailor was questioned and released Wednesday.
Brown said Provost's killer burned the guard shack to cover up evidence.
Brown described Provost as "a rising star in our Navy," who entered the service in March 2008. He had completed basic training and subsequent technical schools and was beginning preparations for overseas deployment.

I pray the friends and family of Seaman August Provost are comfortable with Nicole using their loved one as a poster child for hate crimes. I only hope Nicole was asked to take this to the media by his family and that she did not make that decision for them.

The blood of Seaman August Provost drips on the hands of Heterosupremacist in Chief Obama, Majority Leader Reid and House Speaker Pelosi, who refuse to overturn the unconstitutional Don't Ask Don't Tell. Write to them and tell them that Mr. Provost's blood is on their hands.

@PlanetSpinz: yeah, cuz once DADT is repealed and/or gays can get married, all crime will cease to exist. ROFL