Navy Rules Ensign Punished For Complaining About Anti-gay Harassment

Six months ago the Virginian Pilot covered a story about a U. S. Navy ensign who was punished when he filed a complaint about anti-gay harassment he was enduring. In typical fashion, superior officers had turned a blind eye to the harassment and then subjected ensign Steve Crowston (pictured at left) to punishment for objecting to the ignorant frat boy mentality harassment. Now Navy and Defense Department investigators have found that Crowston was improperly punished. Despite the finding, and in usual idiotic military fashion, Crowston still must petition to have the retaliatory reviews, etc. removed from his personnel records. One would think that such corrections would be automatic, but when the military's involved, one should never expect common sense to be a factor. Comments left by Neanderthal readers on the latest story show that the Navy will have it work cut out for it when it comes to bigots (no doubt those who see themselves as godly church going Christians) who think their personal prejudices trump the rights of other service members and citizens. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot:
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A junior officer who alleged anti-gay harassment at his fighter jet squadron was improperly punished with a bad performance report after he complained, Navy and Defense Department investigators have found.
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Ensign Steve Crowston was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 136 at Oceana Naval Air Station when the alleged harassment took place in the summer of 2009. . . . a group of officers gathered a few months after he arrived to give him and a handful of other personnel honorary call signs - nicknames used by pilots and flight officers. Among the suggested monikers for Crowston, he has said, were "Gayboy" and "Fagmeister." The squadron's commanding and executive officers were both at the meeting, according to Crowston.
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Crowston complained to the executive officer the next day, but nothing came of it, he has said. A few months later, he reported to his superiors what he has described as additional inappropriate and discriminatory behavior symptomatic of a "poor command climate." Crowston says his bosses responded by opening an investigation into his conduct, stripping him of his duties and putting a letter in his file questioning his fitness as an officer.
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"Based on our review, we agree that Cmdr. Liam Bruen, Commanding Officer, Strike Fighter Squadron 136, issued Ensign Crowston an unfavorable fitness report in reprisal for his protected communications," the Defense Department letter says.
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"I've always known it was reprisal," said Crowston, now at Naval Special Warfare Group 2 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek. "There are rules against reprisal, and they were broken. It was time for the Navy to acknowledge that." The Navy IG letter says Crowston may now petition to have the bad performance report removed from his file.