Dear Dr. Crew,
First, I want to thank you for using your well known web site to inform people about the hate crime murder of Barry Winchell in July 1999. The consensus here is that the Army would never have admitted this was a hate crime if the case had not been so well publicized. Thousands of individuals have contacted the Army demanding that this case not be swept under the rug. Barry's death also prompted the Pentagon finally to provide commanders with guidelines for the Don't As Don't Tell policy. Your website helped let the world know what happened here. Many media representatives who contacted me said they were alerted to the story by visitors to your website.
Yesterday I attended the court martial for Calvin Glover, the 18-year-old man who bludgeoned Barry to death. Barry's partner, Calpurnia, and Pat and Wally Kutteles (Barry's mother and step dad) were present. For me the most difficult thing was to view the crime scene photographs of Barry's body (projected on a large TV screen in the court room) and to hear graphic accounts of Barry's injuries from a pathologist. One photograph showed that Barry's blood, brain matter, and cerebral spinal fluid were flung as far as 15 feet and landed on the walls and ceiling of the barracks. We also found out that Barry was asleep and defenseless when he was attacked in his bed with a baseball bat. Yesterday, the Army prosecutor referred to Barry's murder as a hate crime. This was the first time anyone affiliated with the military identified this murder as a hate crime.
The court martial was difficult for Calpurnia and Mr. and Mrs. Kutteles. They expressed some relief that the truth about their son's death is being told. When I see them it is difficult for me not to cry. I see a lot of Barry in his mother. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. If anyone would like to contact them to express support they can use these addresses:
PFCBW@aol.com
Family of PFC Barry Winchell
P.O. Box 233
Grandview, MO 64030
One of the perpetrators, 18-year-old Calvin Glover, sobbed and expressed remorse for his crime during the court martial. He is facing a life sentence without parole. Glover's penitence is in contrast to the murderers of Billy Jack Gaither who expressed little remorse during a recent interview televised on 20/20 with Connie Chung. Glover's accomplice, Justin Fisher, will be court martialed on December 13.
Barry's murder has laid bare the inconsistencies in the faith community in the Diocese of Tennessee. Many Episcopal clergy have been active in protesting Tennessee's resumption of the death penalty, but have kept silence about this hate crime. One priest told me that the Cambridge Resolution was "good, but it has the word 'homosexual' in it." And he declined to support it or discuss it with his mission council. Bishop Herlong has refused to respond to email, letters, and phone calls about the Cambridge Resolution and Barry's murder. At the last meeting of the Standing Committee, Bishop Herlong stated he will not sign the Cambridge Resolution because it is "too political." However, a few weeks ago the bishop took the very political step of meeting with Governor Sundquist to voice opposition to capital punishment. Bishop Herlong's approach to social justice and human rights is a pick and choose "buffet" and not an inclusive banquet that includes everyone. I continue to be amazed and bewildered that Christian people are fearful of being identified as "pro gay" or "pro same sex blessing" if they speak out on behalf of a young man who was bludgeoned to death because of his sexual orientation. I believe this sort of inhospitality is antithetical to the claims of the Gospel and it epitomizes the real sin of Sodom. The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee under the leadership of Bishop Bertram Herlong has squandered another opportunity to be truly evangelical because of partisan rigidity. God forgive us. Bishop Herlong can be contacted at:
The Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
50 Vantage Way, Suite 107
Nashville, Tennessee 37228
(615) 251-3322 FAX (615) 251-8010
Email: info@episcopaldiocese-tn.org
I hope that many will contact him and let him know that the whole world
is watching.
Please feel free to forward this email to others and to post it in your website.
Peace be with you,
Mark Friesland
Nashville, Tennessee
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