29-year-old Navy Seaman August Provost III was found shot dead at his post on Camp Pendelton Marine Corps Base on July 1st. Currently, an investigation is being launched into whether his murder was a hate crime provoked by his being gay.

Provost's family states they believe his death was a hate crime, especially since Provost had complained of harassment on the base because of his sexuality. So far, Navy Captain Matt Brown has released this statement.

"What I can tell you, unequivocally at this point, based on the preliminary information that we have, is that regardless of the person standing watch in that sentry station, this crime would have most likely been carried out in the same way. In other words, another sailor could have been on that post and would have been the victim of this crime."

That statement might be more credible if the military didn't have a history of covering up crimes against gays in the military.  Youth Radio brought one such story into the public eye when we talked to veteran Joseph Christopher Rocha about the abuse he experienced in the Navy because of suspicions about his sexuality.  The investigation into Rocha's case of abuse was mysteriously dropped after it reached the highest military court.  We can only hope that an investigation into Provost's death will be more thorough. 

This is just the latest scandal that brings up the potential for disaster and abuse due to Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. Whether or not Provost's death was a hate crime, the very possibility that it was should underscore the flaws of this disastrous military policy.