Brave New Foundation has produce in new episode in their “In their Boots” series called “Silent Partners,” which explores the effects of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy on the partners of deployed service members. Watch a preview clip below…

There is a also a particularly moving clip at the New York Times.

The episode premieres tomorrow, July 4th, at www.intheirboots.com.

Gay sailor August Provost was found dead Tuesday early morning on the Camp Pendleton base in San Diego, after complaining to his family that he was being harassed. A person of interest is already in custody but no charges have been filed. Gay activists and a local congressman, are viewing the killing as a potential hate crime. Local news coverage below…

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released the following statement:

“Our thoughts are with the Provost family at this time as authorities work to learn what happened in the early morning hours this past Tuesday,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.  “The Human Rights Campaign has confirmed Congresswoman Susan Davis has been in touch with officials at the base and is tracking the investigation.  We know that every day members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are targeted for simply being who they are.  Furthermore, our gay or lesbian soldiers struggle with the extra burden of not serving openly and honestly based on the discriminatory policy of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ As we monitor the investigation, our community must continue to raise awareness on a law that we know hurts military readiness and national security while putting American soldiers at risk.”

Provost’s partner, Kaether Cordero of Houston, learned of the news of his partner’s death from a newspaper reporter. He said that while Provost was openly gay, he kept his life quiet for the most part. “People who he was friends with, I knew that they knew… He didn’t care that they knew. He trusted them.”

Seaman August Provost was only 29.

President Obama hosted a reception yesterday at the White House celebrating LGBT Pride month and commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Speaking before a crowd of nearly 300 people, Obama spoke at some length on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the Matthew Shepard Act and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

President Obama’s remarks in full below…

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Fort Worth police fractured the skull of a patron while raiding the newly opened Rainbow Lounge on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Patrons claimed the police used excessive and unnecessary force during the raid and were targeted because they were gay. Police countered that patrons resisted arrest and made “sexually explicit movements.” Seven individuals were arrested.

Openly gay Fort Worth city councilman Joel Burns made the following statement:

It is unfortunate that this incident occurred in Fort Worth and even more so to have occurred on the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall protests. Unlike 40 years ago, though, the people of this community have elective representation that will make sure our government is accountable and that the rights of all of its citizens are protected. I are working together with our Mayor, Police Chief, the City of Fort Worth Human Relations Commission, and our State Legislative colleagues to get a complete and accurate accounting of what occurred.

Rest assured that neither the people of Fort Worth, nor the city government of Fort Worth, will tolerate discrimination against any of its citizens. And know that the GLBT Community is an integral part of the economic and cultural life of Fort Worth.

CBS affiliate channel 11 out of Dallas reports:

Chad Gibson is still hospitalized for a fractured skull and remains in critical condition.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems.