Barry Winchell

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Barry Winchell
31 August 1977 – 6 July 1999

PFC Barry Winchell
Place of birth Kansas City, MO
Place of death Ft Campbell,KY
Allegiance United States
Service/branch US 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 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy enforced by the military regarding 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, Justin Fisher and other soldiers for an excursion to the Nashville downtown bars. In 1999, Fisher and others took Winchell to a Nashville club featuring transgender performers, and Winchell met a male-to-female transgendered showgirl named Calpernia Addams.[1] The two dated and Fisher began spreading rumors of the relationship at Ft. Campbell where both were serving. Winchell then became a target of ongoing harassment and it is apparent that his superiors did little to quell the harassment.[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 Winchell. Fisher and Winchell had their own history of physical altercations as roommates in the barracks of Ft. Campbell. Fisher continued to goad Glover about being beaten by Winchell. Subsequently, Glover took a baseball bat from Fisher's locker and struck Winchell in the head with the baseball bat 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. Glover was later convicted for the murder of Winchell and Fisher was convicted of lesser crimes regarding impeding the subsequent criminal investigation and both were subsequently incarcerated at the United States Disciplinary Barracks.[4] 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. 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.[5][6][7] 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.[8]

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.[9] 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 and his services to that community were greatly appreciated by C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Maude was killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

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.[10]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ France, David (May 28, 2000). An Inconvenient Woman. New York Times
  2. ^ Clines, Francis X. (December 12, 1999). For Gay Soldier, a Daily Barrage of Threats and Slurs. New York Times
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Staff report (January 9, 2000). Soldier Pleads Guilty In Gay Slaying Case. New York Times
  5. ^ Black, Chris (December 13, 1999). Pentagon to review 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. CNN
  6. ^ Becker, Elizabeth (February 2, 2000). Pentagon Orders Training to Prevent Harassment of Gays. New York Times
  7. ^ Pear, Robert (December 12, 1999). President Admits "Don't Ask" policy Has Been Failure. New York Times
  8. ^ Shenon, Philip (August 14, 1999). Revised Military Guidelines Fail to Quell Gay Concerns. New York Times
  9. ^ Files, John (October 24, 2003). Committee Approves Promoting General In Gay-Bashing Case. New York Times
  10. ^ Files, John (November 19, 2003). Washington: General's Delayed Promotion. New York Times

[edit] External links

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