Barry Winchell
| Barry Winchell | |
|---|---|
 PFC Barry Winchell |
|
| Born | August 31, 1977 Kansas City, Missouri |
| Died | July 6, 1999 (aged 21) Fort Campbell, Kentucky |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1997-1999 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
Barry Winchell (31 August 1977 – 6 July 1999) was an infantry soldier in the United States Army, whose murder by a fellow soldier, Calvin Glover, became a point of reference in the ongoing debate about the law known as "Don't ask, don't tell", which required the US military to discharge service members based on sexual orientation.
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[edit] Life and murder
A native of Missouri, Winchell enlisted in the Army in 1997 and was transferred in 1998 to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. As a Private First Class, he was assigned to the 2/502nd Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division. While stationed at Fort Campbell, he received a Dear John letter from his high school sweetheart. Winchell later accompanied his roommate, Spc. Justin Fisher, and other soldiers for an excursion to the Nashville downtown bars. In 1999, Fisher and others took Winchell to a Nashville club, The Connection, which featured transgender performers. Here Winchell met a male-to-female transgender showgirl named Calpernia Addams.[1] The two began to date. Fisher began to spread rumors of the relationship at Ft. Campbell where both men served. Winchell then became a target of ongoing harassment which his superiors did little to stop.[2]
The harassment was continuous until the Fourth of July weekend, when Winchell and fellow soldier, Calvin Glover, fought after Winchell accused a boasting Glover of being a fraud. Both were drinking beer throughout the day. Glover was soundly defeated by Winchell, and Fisher harassed Glover about being beaten by " 'a fucking faggot' like Winchell". Fisher and Winchell had their own history of physical altercations as roommates in the barracks of Ft. Campbell. Fisher continued to goad Glover. Subsequently, Glover took a baseball bat from Fisher's locker and struck Winchell in the head with it as he slept on a cot outside near the entry to the room Winchell shared with Fisher in the early hours of 5 July 1999.[3] Winchell died of massive head injuries on 6 July at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.[4] Glover was later convicted for the murder of Winchell; Fisher was convicted of lesser crimes regarding impeding the subsequent criminal investigation, and both were subsequently incarcerated at the United States Disciplinary Barracks.[5][6] The murder charges against Fisher were dropped and Fisher was sentenced in a plea bargain to 12.5 years, denied clemency in 2003, released to a halfway house in August 2006, and released from all custody in October 2006.[7] Glover is serving a life sentence.
[edit] Fallout
Winchell's murder led President Bill Clinton to order a review of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy, a policy which some assert was a significant factor in the murder of Winchell by Calvin Glover.[8][9][10] The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network was a prominent critic of how the policy was implemented, and they demanded to know who, in higher ranks, was responsible for the climate on base.[11] The policy review led to the addition of a “Don’t Harass” clause in the policy. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was overturned by President Barack Obama on September 20, 2011.
Winchell's parents, Wally and Patricia Kutteles, and many others continue to press for a re-examination of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Despite campaigning by the Kutteleses and LGBT activist groups, the Commanding General of Fort Campbell at the time of the murder, Major General Robert T. Clark, refused to take responsibility for the purported anti-gay climate at Fort Campbell under his command.[12] After being exonerated, he was nominated and approved for promotion to Lieutenant General on 5 December 2003.
Lieutenant General Timothy Maude however, did visit with Patricia Kutteles. He was a point man on LGBT issues for the U.S. Army.
The 2003 film Soldier's Girl is based on Winchell's murder and the events leading up to the brutal slaying. Winchell was portrayed by Troy Garity. The film received a Peabody Award and numerous Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and sparked renewed debate of the effects of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy during the Clark promotion hearings.[13]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ France, David (May 28, 2000). An Inconvenient Woman. New York Times
- ^ Clines, Francis X. (December 12, 1999). For Gay Soldier, a Daily Barrage of Threats and Slurs. New York Times
- ^ Thomas Hackett. The Execution of Private Barry Winchell: The Real Story Behind the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" Murder. Rolling Stone, 2 March 2000. At Archive.org.
- ^ "Lovers in a Dangerous Time", The Advocate, May 27, 2003, pp. 30 ff.
- ^ Staff report (January 9, 2000). Soldier Pleads Guilty In Gay Slaying Case. New York Times
- ^ U.S. v. Fisher, 58 M.J. 300 (U.S. Armed Forces Court of Appeals June 17, 2003).
- ^ http://www.calpernia.com/justin-fisher-released-from-prison/
- ^ Black, Chris (December 13, 1999). Pentagon to review 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. CNN
- ^ Becker, Elizabeth (February 2, 2000). Pentagon Orders Training to Prevent Harassment of Gays. New York Times
- ^ Pear, Robert (December 12, 1999). President Admits "Don't Ask" policy Has Been Failure. New York Times
- ^ Shenon, Philip (August 14, 1999). Revised Military Guidelines Fail to Quell Gay Concerns. New York Times
- ^ Files, John (October 24, 2003). Committee Approves Promoting General In Gay-Bashing Case. New York Times
- ^ Files, John (November 19, 2003). Washington: General's Delayed Promotion. New York Times
[edit] External links
- 1977 births
- 1999 deaths
- People from Kansas City, Missouri
- American murder victims
- United States Army soldiers
- Murdered military personnel
- People murdered in Kentucky
- American victims of anti-LGBT hate crimes
- Sexual orientation and the United States military
- United States military sex scandals
- Don't ask, don't tell
