Despite recent Pentagon efforts to address anti-gay harassment in the ranks, new data released to day by a watchdog group indicate that reports of anti-gay harassment have more than doubled in the past year. According to the report, Conduct Unbecoming, by Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), reports of anti-gay harassment surged even after the murder of Private First Class Barry Winchell at Fort Campbell, Kentucky last July and re-issuance of Pentagon guidance on anti-gay harassment last August.

C. Dixon Osburn, SLDN Co-Executive Director, stated, "While the Department of Defense claims everything is fine, events of this past year show that conclusion to be a whitewash. SLDN's report details the dramatic and horrifying results of a bad policy made worse by failed leadership."

In related news, the parents of slain soldier Private First Class Barry Winchell announced their intent to take legal action against the Army for the wrongful death of their son. Pat Kutteles, Winchell's mother, said, "I do not want another parent to have to endure what we are going through. The Army is partially responsible for what happened to my son. The Army failed to stop the daily harassment our son faced and it led to his murder. I do not think that either the Army or Major General Clark, the Commanding General at Fort Campbell, will wake up unless my family does this for Barry."

The harassment report by SLDN cites 968 incidents of anti-gay harassment, including assaults and verbal gay-bashing, up 142% from last year's report. In addition to Winchell's murder, the report describes:

Anti-gay graffiti mocking Winchell's murder at Fort Campbell, including a drawing of a baseball bat emblazoned with the words "Fag Whacker" in the Family Support Center on base;

An anti-gay chant at Fort Campbell where soldiers sang while they ran: "Faggot. Faggot. Down the street. Shot him, shot him. 'Til he retreats."

A witch hunt of women at the Defense Language Institute at Monterey, California which ensnared twelve female airmen in a climate described as extremely hostile to gays and women.

An anti-gay email in which Marine Lieutenant Colonel Edward Melton mocked Winchell's murder and called gays derogatory names including "homos," and "backside rangers;" the officer was forwarding guidance on harassment prevention efforts to his subordinates.

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