Dead Soldier's Mom Accuses Military Of Ignoring Gay Attacks

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon05/12/122305military.htm

The mother of a soldier killed in a homophobic attack by fellow members of the military is accusing the federal government of doing little or nothing to end hate attacks following a series of attacks on another gay soldier.

"My husband Wally and I are outraged to learn that yet another Army Private has been the target of harassment and violence at the hands of a fellow soldier," Patricia Kutteles, mother of slain Army Private First Class Barry Winchell said on Friday.

Earlier this week 365Gay.com reported that Private Kyle Lawson accused a fellow member of a training unit at Fort Huachuca in Arizona of punching in the face during a homophobic outburst at an off-post party after a friend let it slip that Lawson was gay. (story)

The soldier accused of hitting Lawson told police that Lawson made sexually suggestive remarks.

[bammertheblue]

1. Good lord

even if he DID make "sexually suggestive" remarks (which I highly doubt, since the army is not exactly a tolerant atmosphere), how does that give anyone the right to KILL him? People need to get called on this "gay panic" bullshit and NOW.

ANd of course the army does nothing. THeir approach is "don't ask, don't tell, don't care".

[pocket]

2. same old same old, for decades

funny how we end up condemning the Taliban for doing the same thing

[IndianaGreen]

3. Support the homophobic troops!

I believe that Barry Winchell was the subject of the film Soldier's Girl about his tragic murder when his fellow troops found out that his girlfriend Calpernia Addams was a transgender woman.

[jonnyblitz]

7. you are correct. i just watched that movie. too. very sad.

that was jane fonda's son who played barry winchell in the movie, btw.

[IndianaGreen]

8. If a white mob were to murder my friend Fred for his being Black

it would be called a hate crime.

But since Fred is also a gay Black man, it would not be a hate crime if he was killed because of his sexual orientation.

There is something very disturbing about such logic, yet such reasoning is often cited in justifying opposition to laws protecting gays.

[NMMNG]

4. So does this mean that if a guy makes "sexually suggestive remarks" to me

I can kill him? :shrug:

[racaulk]

6. I guess so

And, as a gay man, if a woman makes "sexually suggestive remarks" to me, I should be able to kill her too. :sarcasm:

I cannot comprehend the lack of logic here. Is it easier to end someone's life and face imprisonment than it is to say "thanks, but no thanks?" Wouldn't it be better to just walk away than to take someone else's sexual orientation as a personal attack?

And I agree with a previous poster: using "gay panic" as a legal defense is absolutely absurd.

[kevinbgoode]

5. I phoned my Congressman's office about this yesterday

And I suggest that anyone else reading this contact their congressperson and ask if they supported the letter to have the harassment points examined/implemented by the Pentagon back in 2003 (22 Congresspersons signed that letter) and if they have signed on to the House bill to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

I also cited editorials both in the St. Petersburg Times and the Arizona Daily Star attacking this behavior and the Pentagon's use of gay soldiers as cannon fodder - then, if they survive, they kick them out when they come home from a tour of duty.

It is important to not only question why the perpetrator in this harassment/assault incident is only getting away with the removal of a weekend pass, but also why the military should create a situation where ANY soldier lives in fear of another squad member. That is unconscionable. In my mind, the person who should be removed from military service is the man who committed the CRIME. He cannot be trusted to maintain viability on the field of battle.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/107879

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/939438941.html?MAC=d2dcb73497f4ffeff305de1f9e692d32&did=939438941&FMT=FT&FMTS=FT&date=Dec+9%2C+2005&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&printformat=&desc=A+shabby+way+to+treat+gay+soldiers

http://www.sldn.org/templates/action//index.html?section=101

http://www.sldn.org/binary-data/SLDN_ARTICLES/pdf_file/1054.pdf

http://www.sldn.org/binary-data/SLDN_PDF/pdf_file/2.pdf


I think it really is a good idea to start showing our congress members that we expect a thorough investigation into this conduct. . .NOW. And no more delays over implementing the recommendation of the Pentagon's OWN survey on harassment conducted FIVE years ago.

[xchrom]

9. same shit, different day...

right no hate motivated crime there.:eyes: