The death of sailor Allen R Schindler sparked a major change in US policy
In October 1992, Allen R. Schindler, a Radioman Petty Officer Third Class in the US Navy, was murdered in a public toilet in Sasebo, Nagasaki. Schindler had previously complained about bullying and had requested to leave the Navy.
Schindler’s superiors ordered that he remain aboard his vessel until the separation process was complete.
While the USS Belleau Wood was travelling to Japan, Schindler made a prank announcement on the Navy’s secure communications system. He transmitted the message “2-Q-T-2-B-S-T-R-8” (“too cute to be straight”), which was reportedly received by much of the Pacific Fleet.
When he was called before officers for disciplinary action, Schindler requested that the matter be heard privately. His request was denied, and approximately 200 service members became aware of the incident.
On 27 October 1992, Schindler was murdered by Terry M. Helvey, a sailor assigned to the ship’s weather department. Helvey repeatedly stomped on Schindler’s head, inflicting injuries so severe that authorities were reportedly able to identify him only through the tattoos on his arm.
At trial, Helvey denied that Schindler’s sexual orientation was the reason for the attack. Prosecutors, however, argued that Schindler had been targeted because he was gay and presented evidence that Helvey later told colleagues: “I don’t regret it. I’d do it again. He deserved it.”
Helvey avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to the lesser charge of unpremeditated murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and remains incarcerated.
Helvey receives a parole hearing every two years. In March 2022, one member of the US Parole Commission recommended that he be released, while the remaining four commissioners disagreed. He therefore remained in prison.
The case became a focal point in arguments for stronger protections for gay, lesbian and bisexual service members in the US military. The following year, debate intensified over whether LGBTQ personnel should be permitted to serve openly. Military leaders argued that such a change would be difficult to implement.
A compromise was eventually adopted. Harassment based on perceived sexual orientation would no longer be officially tolerated, and military investigators would no longer actively seek out personnel suspected of being gay, lesbian or bisexual. However, LGBTQ service members were still required to keep their sexual orientation private.
The policy became known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and remained in effect from 1993 until 2010.
During his 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama pledged to repeal the policy. Following a lengthy legislative process, the repeal was signed into law on 22 December 2010, 17 years and one day after the policy first took effect.
In October 2024, the Pentagon upgraded the discharge status of many of the service members who had been banished from the military under the policy. The change in status meant many would be eligible for benefits not afforded under their dishonourable discharge status.
Composer Julius Eastman was born in 1940
American composer Julius Eastman was born on this day in 1940. He was one of the first composers to work in minimalist and experimental music genres.
As a conductor, musician and vocalist he worked with artists including Arthur Russell, Meredith Monk and Pierre Boulez. In the 1970s he began making music that overtly celebrated his identity with bold titles like Gay Guerilla and Nigger Faggot, Crazy Nigger and Evil Nigger.
His professional opportunities dried up in the 1980s as he struggled with substance abuse and experienced homelessness and his work faded into obscurity. He died in 1990, his death possibly due to HIV. He was 49 years old.
Decades after his passing other artists rediscovered his work and began re-recording many of his compositions. In 2024 the Melbourne based Astra Chamber Music Society gave the Australian premiere of Eastman’s works.
The 2015 book Gay Guerilla: Julius Eastman and His Music presents a series of essays on the artists work and compositions.
