In this section, I will provide information found on the Internet connected to dancehall and Jamaican homophobia from 2006 to present time.

...........................................................For previous news (1976 to 2004): click here
............................................................ For previous news (2005-2006): click here
............................................................ For previous news (2007-2008): click here




UPDATES FOR 2010
Due to my work on other projects, I am now spending less time updating this website. The NEWS & HISTORY section is the part of the website I have invested the most time in order to provide the most accurate news and development on the subject. If you see an important news that is missing, you can e-mail me a link of an article and I will gladly update it in this section.
(e-mail: irieites72@yahoo.ca)



February 24, 2009: Debate: Could Dancehall Be The Ruination Of Reggae?
Brooklyn, NY. The New York reggae community and fraternity are abuzz with excitement as they get ready for a highly anticipated community forum and panel discussion being staged by Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music and ZYNC TV NEW YORK LINKZ. The community forum titled “Could Dancehall be the ruination of Reggae and by extension, the Jamaica brand?” takes place on Wednesday, March 4th at the historic Billie Holiday Theatre at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, New York from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Admission is free and open to the public.  “The temperature is rising around this issue and you certainly don’t want to miss the evening’s discussion,” says Carlyle McKetty, co-founder of Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) and one of the organizers of the forum. Media coverage and community feedback have been extraordinary as the hot button debate comes on the heels of the decision by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica to ban lewd lyrics from the airwaves and on public transportation. Sharon Gordon, co-founder of CPR, points out that "instead of music portraying truths, rights, love and respect, we see a popular sound that is demeaning, hateful, destructive and downright vulgar" (More on the link below).  
(Press Release) (Flyer) (REVIEW: Jamaica Gleaner) (images from the event)

March 27, 2009: Another New York debate: 'Do Radio Deejays Contribute to the State of Jamaican Music?'
Brooklyn, NY. “Do radio deejays contribute to the state of popular Jamaican music?”  That’s the question being posed at the next community forum and panel discussion hosted by the Coalition to Preserve Reggae music (CPR), in association with ZYNC TV NEW YORK LINKZ and People of Black Heritage. The forum takes place on Thursday, April 16. The forum promises keen insight into this question. “When we look at what is happening in our culture with our youths and in our community, we’d be remiss not to closely examine everything that has influence whether positive or negative,” says Sheron Hamilton-Pearson, President of People of Black Heritage. The last forum revealed concern that Jamaican popular music is exerting a negative impact that needs to be addressed. “There was concern over the sexually explicit and strongly violent lyrics that are being incorporated in popular Jamaican music and then aired on radio and television” Says Carlyle McKetty co-founder of Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music and one of the organizers.“Accordingly, many expressed outrage at the crass, course and vulgar sounds being emitted over the airwaves. CPR is here to raise the bar in the level of discussion and we intend to facilitate community involvement in discussing these issues and seeking remedies and solutions,” says Sharon Gordon, co-founder of CPR and moderator of the forums. “As stakeholders we are all affected, we must come together and find common solutions.”(More on the link below).  
(Press Release) (Flyer)

April XX, 2009: Riddim magazine: Jamaica's Most Wanted – Reggae & Homophobia Reloaded
Riddim, the German reggae and dancehall magazine, devoted the cover of its 42nd issue to homophobia in dancehall music. Titled: 'Jamaica's Most Wanted – Reggae & Homophobie Reloaded'. Riddim magazine is published 6 times per year and the number 42 is the April/May 2009 edition. (Riddim No.42 cover) (Riddim Magazine)

NOTE: I haven't read the article, but by reading the article 'Lost In Translation', published in Jamaica Gleaner on August 1st 2009 (see below), I would assume that Riddim magazine is criticizing the Stop Murder Music campaign. I know that Riddim magazine was translated in english and published in the United States for a few years, but I believe the english edition is no longer existing. If someone would like to post scans of the article published in Riddim 42, I will include it in this section.

April 10, 2009: Sizzla Toronto Show Cancelled: Artist blames inifficiency (The real reason?)
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Dancehall/reggae artiste Sizzla Kalonji and his management were told by the Canadian authorities in Jamaica that they would not issue them visas to enter their country because he had refused to sign documents, which stated that the DJ should not perform any of his anti-gay lyrics or songs that promotes violence. OutAroad.com understands that since the cancellation of Sizzla's arrival in Canada to perform at the Paramount Concert Theatre as left many fans angry with the promoters for not standing up against the many challenges that they have faced from the gay community.” A few days later, an article was published in the Jamaica Observer denying these facts: According to the artiste's camp, the real reasons behind the cancellation of the event scheduled for the Paramount Concert Theatre, was time inefficiency and late entry of the paperwork to the Canadian Embassy in Jamaica. Sizzla was approved by authorities in Canada to perform. "At this point in Sizzla's career, he is moving forward with total positivity, unity, and urges all to stop the violence," the statement said. (The initial aricle (titled: Sizzla says no to gay rights – Toronto Show Cancelled) was removed from OutARoad.com, but was found on Hot97, St.Vincent radio station website).
(OutRoad / Hot97) (Jamaica Observer)

April 13, 2009: American LGBT launch a Jamaican Boycott Campaign
TEXT FROM PRESS RELEASE: On April 15, Gay advocates are launching a national boycott of Jamaica in New York City at the famed Stonewall Bar – birthplace of the gay rights movement. The bar’s owners and boycott supporters will dump Jamaican liquor – Red Stripe beer and Myers’ Rum – down the sewer.“We, as the owners of the Stonewall Inn, birthplace of the Gay rights movement, refuse to support, in any way, shape or form, the oppression of any people especially our gay brothers and sisters in Jamaica,” the Stonewall Inn said in its statement. “We ask all people of all walks of life to send a clear message to the Jamaican people and their government, that as long as they continue to allow and condone violence and hatred toward the Gay community, we will neither buy their products nor support their tourist trade. To do so is to tacitly support the current climate of oppression.”(more on the link below) A similar boycott was initiated in Canada last year, but was later called off. For more information on the Canadian boycott, visit this section at the following dates: March 20 2008, April 25 2008, May 17 2008.
(PRESS RELEASE: TruthWinsOut) (BoycottJamaica.org) (Boycott: Questions & Answers)
On the BoycottJamaica.org website, a few letters of people that support the boycott have been posted. Among them:
(Jamaican Blogger Backs Boycott) (Travel Executive Writes Jamaican Embassy In Support of Boycott)
Interview with Boris Dittrich on Justice or Just Us on KUCI:
(Boris Dittrich RADIO INTERVIEW: The Criminalization of Homosexuality Around the World)

PERSONNAL OPPINION: I have spent a lot of time thinking about this issue last year, and even today, I am still undecided wether or not a boycott is the best thing to do in order to move things forward in Jamaica. But I do overstand people's motive and their initiative is driven by the reach of social justice. I invite all the readers to at least go through the QUESTIONS & ANSWERS made by the people who organised the boycott in order to better size their intentions before passing any judgement.

PERSONNAL NOTE: 'Jamaica Beware' is a very good example of how badly Jamaicans and dancehall fans can be informed about the boycott. This 'article' was published by the staff at YardFlex, a Jamaican dancehall webzine which seems to be THE reference when it comes to dancehall news. It's funny to notice that articles that gets the most reaction on their website are often the one that deals with homosexuality.

April 14, 2009: Jamaican gays warn against US boycott
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: US rights group TruthWinsOut, founded by 365gay columnist Wayne Besen, has called for a boycott of the island and some of its most famous products, to protest several violent homophobic incidents and Jamaica’s refusal to repeal laws against sodomy. “We ask all people of all walks of life to send a clear message to the Jamaican people and their government, that as long as they continue to allow and condone violence and hatred toward the Gay community, we will neither buy their products nor support their tourist trade.” “If you love your gay friends and family members, you won’t visit Jamaica,” said boycott co-organizer Wayne Besen. “If you care about the human rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, you won’t buy Jamaican products”. But in Kingston, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays, said the boycott could backfire and result in more violence. “Because of the possible repercussions of increased homophobic violence against our already besieged community, we feel that a tourist boycott is not the most appropriate response at this time,” J-FLAG said in a statement. “In our battle to win hearts and minds, we do not wish to be perceived as taking food off the plate of those who are already impoverished. In fact, members of our own community could be disproportionately affected by a worsened economic situation brought about by a tourist ban.” Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has told Parliament his government will not yield to “perhaps the most organized lobby in the world” and will not abolish prison sentences for sodomy. Golding made the comment during debate on a new sexual offenses law primarily aimed at combating rape and child abuse. Jamaican LGBT rights groups and international human rights organizations had urged the government to include a repeal of the sodomy law in the new act. (more on the link below).
(365gay.com)

April 24, 2009: Screening of the documentary: Taboo... Yardies (Short Version)
Film Screening and Panel Discussion at Desmond Tutu Center (New York City) on April 24. EVENT DESCRIPTION: Taboo...Yardies is a documentary exploring homophobia in Jamaica, giving a voice to Jamaicans (Yardies) to discuss the violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Unashamedly in support of human rights and against the violence being advocated and perpetrated against LGBT Jamaicans, the film hopes to spur open and honest conversation and to promote respect and tolerance for all people regardless of sexual orientation. The short version of this film will be screened at this event.
(TheDesmondTutuCenter)

May 6, 2009: Mavado concert canceled in Switzerland
Mavado is currently doing a small tour in Europe. The Jamaican dancehall artist is know to have at least three songs that promote discrimination against gays. Stop Murder Music Bern have requested the cancelation of his two concerts scheduled in Switzerland (Zurich on May 14 and Neuchâtel on May 17). The Zurich concert was cancelled by the owner of the Dynamo-Club and the Social Department of the City of Zurich on May 6th. Mavado European promoter requested that Stop Murder Music Bern do not target his artist with their campaign, saying that 'Mavado have no homophobic lyrics in his songs. If you listen to his new album you will see that none of his song says to hurt gay people'. J-FLAG reply was although the new Mavado album is free of those lyrics, some of the unreleased duplates of his songs circulating on mixtapes exclusive for sound systems have some of the tracks re-edited that reflect anti-gay sentiments. Nicardo Blake of Haunted Unickris Promotion claimed to Switzerland journalists that Mavado has (or will) signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. LGBT groups recall that the RCA will not be accountable if it's signed behind close doors. Mavado must sign the document in public (some groups even request a press conference) for it to be considered valid.

NOTE: A year ago, Mavado was part of Jamaican artists that addressed the issue of 'cleaning' dancehall lyrics, statement published in the Jamaican press. If he is true to his words, he won't have any trouble to sign the RCA, and make a press conference to state that he have moved on from his gun lyrics and anti-gay lyrics.
(Mavado 'So Special' tour) (Stop Murder Music Bern)

May 29, 2009: PMI aquire Jet Star Records catalogue
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: PMI (Phoenix Music International) has acquired the rights in Jetstar Music. As the UK's leading reggae label for many years, Jetstar is probably most famous for its': Reggae Hits, Reggae Max and Lovers Rock series, in addition to a wealth of published titles. We are looking forward to working with the artist and writers in a new chapter in the Jetstar story. Jet Star Records is one of the three leading companies in the Reggae/Dancehall distribution. They took part at the negotiation table when the deal was signed between LGBT groups and the Dancehall industry in order to stop the distribution of 'Murder Music'. (see February 5, 2005 in this section for more detais).

NOTE: Jet Star seems to have been out of activities for several months now (apparently since May 2008). Reggae Hits volume 38, wich was due in October 2008 was never issued. Their annual Reggae Hits compilation is the best seeling title from their catalogue. At the time of writing these lines (August 2009), Jet Star website was still not working. After learning that VP Records purchased Greensleeves in February 2008, I was expecting them to purchase Jet Star catalogue... Message taken from a blog: "Apparently Jetstar ceased to exist as at May 2008 (went bankrupt) - website no longer working".
(Musik Week) (Phoenix Music International) (Jet Star Records) (Jet Star Records history)

May 31 2009: African reggae song used as the theme song for the gay documentary 'Sortir du Nkuta'
Tiken Jah Fakoly, the revolutionary french reggae singer from Ivory Coast, gave his permission to use his song 'Justice' so it can be included in the film 'Sortir du Nkuta', a documentary that deals with the difficult situations of gays and lesbians in Cameroon. A wonderful and refreshing statement which shows that reggae music can be associated with the fight for the gay rights movement. The song 'Justice' is a duet made in 2002, with legendary Jamaican poet and deejay U-Roy. It was featured on the multi-platinum album 'Françafrique', recorded at Bob Marley's Tuff Gong studio in Jamaica. Tiken Jah sings the same roots music as the late Bob Marley. He has an international follow up like Alpha Blondy and Lucky Duby, both African reggae singers. In english, the title of the film is 'Coming Out of the Nkuta', meaning 'Coming out of the closet'. The film synopsis: 'Since 1972, homosexuality has been punishable in Cameroon by up to five years in prison. In Cameroon: Coming Out of the Nkuta we meet Lambert, a young man who was rounded up in a bar with a group of 30 and thrown in jail. Lambert’s lawyer, Alice Nkom is a strong advocate for lesbian and gay rights and her first goal is the legalization of homosexuality, taking the issue out of the penal code'. (more from the synopsys below)
(Coming Out Of The Nkuta) (preview of the film) (Justice, by Tiken Jah Fakoly)

NOTE: In my opinion, Tiken Jah Fakoly makes the best contemporay reggae music, filled with deep and conscious lyrics. If you love Bob Marley, you will definitively love Tiken's musical style. This is the website that I made to promote his music: Justice: Tiken Jah Fakoly. It's only in February 2010 that I learned about this film and I cannot hide how happy I was to realised that he agred to share his music with the fight for gay liberation.

June 10, 2009: Trailler posted on YouTube for the upcoming documentary Taboo... Yardies
DESCRIPTION ON YOUTUBE: The concept of the documentary TabooYardies which is still in production is to explore the perception of Jamaica as an Island that is saturated with intolerance towards the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) by giving a voice to Jamaicans who are pro, con and everywhere in between this highly controversial issue. Also by giving a voice to those Jamaicans who dare to speak up and out on human rights, we hope to give viewers an opportunity to decide for themselves whether the view of Jamaica as a homophobic culture is perception or reality. More importantly, we hope TabooYardies becomes a vehicle that spurs an open an honest conversation that ultimately promotes respect and tolerance for all people regardless of sexual orientation. This documentary is unashamedly in support of human rights and against violence being advocated and/or perpetrated against LGBT Jamaicans.
(Taboo Yardies TRAILER)

June 23, 2009: Third New York debate: 'Are shoddy pratices eroding support for Reggae?'
Booklyn, N.Y., On Wednesday, June 24th, the Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) and NEW YORK LINKS ZYNC TV will host yet another exciting and informative community forum, this one titled, “From promotion, to staging, to reportage, to artist, are shoddy practices eroding support for reggae?” The CPR Community Conversations series has been hailed a success by the hundreds who have participated since February 2009, when CPR first began hosting the forums. “We are in a data gathering mode,” points out Carlyle McKetty, co-founder and president of CPR. “Once we have collected the data, we will analyze our findings and produce a white paper for submission to the Jamaican Government.” CPR has been travelling throughout the north east, examining the state of popular Jamaican music and its impact on the moral, social and economic fiber of the Jamaican society, the Diaspora, as well as its impact on brand Jamaica. This next forum, part of an ongoing Community Conversations series, takes place on Wednesday, June 24th from 7pm to 10:30pm at the Brecht Forum. As Caribbean Heritage Month comes to a close in New York City, the community is invited to participate in a lively discussion with panelists, noted journalist and publicist, Anthony Turner; radio and television host, Ras Clem, and publicist, Raine Martin along with long time promoter George Crooks, international singing sensation Bunny Brown and journalist Pat Meschino who will serve as commentators. (More on the link below).  
(Press Release) (Flyer)

July 2, 2009: Gay sex decriminalized in India's capital
NEW DELHI, INDIA. A court ruled Thursday to decriminalize homosexuality in the Indian capital, a groundbreaking decision that could bring more freedom to gays in this deeply conservative country. The Delhi High Court ruled that treating consensual gay sex as a crime is a violation of fundamental rights protected by India's constitution. The ruling, the first of its kind in India, applies only in New Delhi. "I'm so excited, and I haven't been able to process the news yet," Anjali Gopalan, the executive director of the Naz Foundation India Trust, a sexual health organization that had filed the petition, told reporters. "We've finally entered the 21st century." But some religious leaders quickly criticized the ruling."This Western culture cannot be permitted in our country," said Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, a leading Muslim cleric in the northern city of Lucknow. Sex between people of the same gender has been illegal in India since a British colonial era law that classified it as "against the order of nature." According to the law, gay sex is punishable by 10 years in prison. While actual criminal prosecutions are few, the law has frequently been used to harass people. (More on the link below).  
(Radio-Canada.ca)

NOTE: Although this news is not related to the Caribbean, it give a wonderful example that deeply conservative countries are evolving on the issue of gay rights.

July 17, 2009: Tjenbé Rèd! request that YouTube removes videos by TOK and Capleton
The french Caribbean LGBT group Tjenbé Rèd and in charge of the Stop Murder Music campaign in France sent an official letter to YouTube requesting the site to remove videos of offensive/violent homophobic songs. The two videos enumerated in the letter are 'Chi Chi Man' (by TOK) and 'Bun Out Di Chi Chi' (by Capleton).Tjenbé Rèd! is a civil movement for action and reflexion on black, metis and LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals or trangenders) in France, Africa or the Caribbean.
(Press Release)

July 28, 2009: Elephant Man not welcome at Caribana – Concert Cancelled
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: One of Jamaica's premier dancehall artists will not get the chance to "log on" at one of Toronto's biggest Caribana events (July 31st to August 2nd), after the local gay community complained about his lyrics. Controversial performer O'Neil Bryan, also known as Elephant Man, was pulled from the lineup of the Sunday-night concert, dubbed Caribana Celebrity Ball, scheduled at Circa nightclub in the Entertainment District. Kim Montgomery, a spokesperson for Circa, said members of Toronto's gay community found his music offensive, so they asked the promoter to remove him from the bill, which also includes rapper Fabolous and R&B sensation Trey Songz. "The second that we heard that he was considered offensive we decided that we should back away from promoting him as an artist," she said. On July 29, Xtra raised the question as if the copncert sheduled on August 2nd will really be cancelled... (More on the links below).  
(Toronto CP 24) (Xtra) (Jamaica Star)

July 30, 2009: Presenation in Trinidad: lyrics that deal with homosexuality in calypso music
TEXT FROM CAISO WEBSITE: Believe it or not, in sharp contrast to dancehall, homosexuality is one of the topics that calypso has handled with some of its sweetest ingenuity and subtlest imagination. Not all the time, of course. But surprisingly often. Whether you simply love the calypso artform and Trini culture or you have a personal or family connection to the topic, join in a tent-like atmosphere where we will take in some two dozen recordings of fascinating calypsoes from the 1950s to the present that display surprising wit and intelligence in their treatment of same-sex love. The presenation is entitled: 'Patricia gone with... Millicent?' and is available for listening on the Internet in an audio format with slides. Building on published research by retired UWI professor Gordon Rohlehr, one of the pre-eminent scholars of calypso, cultural organizers Colin Robinson, Charleston Thomas and others have collected some 30 recordings from the 1950s to the present that “show remarkably witty treatments of the topic”. “It’s not the only approach to homosexuality in calypso,” Robinson continues. “There is moralizing, scorn, violence, ridicule. But unlike Jamaica, playfulness seems to be the dominant approach in our indigenous music. And to me homosexuality is one of the topics to which calypso has brought some of its subtlest imagination and sweetest ingenuity.” (More on the links below).  
(CAISO: Patricia Gone with... Millicent?) (Press Release) (Morning TV Show) (The Gaurdian) (CAISO website)

NOTE: This presentation is very interesting. The running time is 1 hours and 52 minutes. At time of writing, there was an audio problem in the middle of the document that last 26 minutes, but it is still worth listening in a whole. The sound is just not perfect during that segment. I also suggest that you listen to the chat with the audience at the end of the presentation (length: 32 minutes). You must contact CAISO in order to get an access code to ear the presentation.

August 1, 2009: German reggae writer and editors criticizing the Stop Murder Music campaign
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: German radio disc jock Andreas Müller has criticised European and North American gay and lesbian rights groups for what he calls a coordinated campaign to tarnish reggae and dancehall music. The 44-year-old, who doubles as an entertainment writer and has a vast library of some 15,000-20,000 reggae works - mainly on vinyl - in his Berlin home office, told Saturday Life in a recent interview that gay rights lobbyists have missed the mark by viewing dancehall's vitriolic lyrics as a literal rallying cry for bloodletting. "They had no idea about reggae culture, about anything at all. No one went to Jamaica to learn (and understand)". Peter Tatchell, in an email interview with Saturday Life yesterday, rubbished Müller's claims. "We only target eight out of hundreds of Jamaican singers. It is because they incite homophobic violence and murder. We have done this at the behest of Jamaican gay and human rights campaigners (who) have said that this music is unacceptable and contributes to a climate of hatred and violence against gay Jamaicans. The claim that I am racist is nonsense. I have a 40-year record of campaigning against racism, and I am often attacked both verbally and physically by racist thugs because I have defended black communities." Ellen Köhlings, co-editor of the German reggae Riddim magazine, believes homophobic music is more a case of art reflecting life. "It's the consensus in Jamaica and the music always reflects the society in Jamaica. They cannot just blame artistes," she said. Jan Kedves, an editor of Spex magazine, said despite an about-face by Jamaican artistes in steering clear of anti-gay themes, entertainers would only gain true credibility if they publicly denounced anti-gay violence. (More on the links below).  
(Jamaica Gleaner)

August 13, 2009: T.O.K. sign a document similar to the Reggae Compassionate Act
I just found out the extistance of a document similar to the Reggae Compassionate Act that was signed by T.O.K. on August 13, 2009 before ther perfomance in Zurich. MORE TO COME.  
(Reggae Compassionate Act signed by T.O.K.)

September 12, 2009: Buju Banton in hot water again: 19 concerts cancelled in his US tour
On September 12, Buju Banton launched his US tour 'Rasta Got Soul'. The 38-date tour is facing several protest by gays and lesbians organizations. An official cancellation campaign was launch with the tag-line 'Rasta Got Hate', calling the LGBT community to protest the scheduled concerts by calling the venues. COMING FROM ARTICLE: It’s been a war of words in the past month between Banton’s management and the GLBT community. After LiveNation cancelled a handful of House of Blues performances, Banton’s record company defended him in an open letter to critics. “It is the only song he ever made on the subject — and he does not perform it today,” wrote Tracii McGregor, vice president and general manager of Gargamel Records. But Lorri Jean, CEO of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center fired back her own open letter, claiming that Banton continues to perform the song. Banton certainly isn’t putting out the flames. In a 2006 interview with a Billboard reporter, the singer said, “I’ve never bashed any gays before, and if I bashed gays, I bashed them 16 years ago.” An undated YouTube video posted a month ago and spotlighted on the website CancelBujuBanton.wetpaint.com shows Banton on stage, telling an audience, “There is no end to the war between me and faggots." At time of writing theses lines, 19 concerts were cancelled: Richmond, Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Eureka, Santa Clara, San Jose, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Charleston, Tampa and Orlando. Nine of these concerts were re-scheduled at different venues.
(Rasta Got Soul US Tour) ('Rasta Got Hate' cancellation website) (Letter from Buju Banton Manager) (Response to Banton's Manager) (Peter Tatchell's examples of Banton's violation of the RCA) (Charleston City Paper) (Jamaica Gleaner 1) (Jamaica Gleaner 2) (Jamaica Observer)

NOTE: The story is repeating itself all over again... As a fan of reggae music, I wonder how many years of this situation do we need to witness before we can move to another level. I am divided when it comes to canceling concerts. Yes we can find several really good reason to target Buju Banton's tour. Yes this campaign is proven very effective, but how much do we benefit from this situation? It send a clear message, but at the same time it build up anger to thousand of reggae fans who don't have any hatred against the gay community. Even how mad Buju Banton can be about LGBT targeting his US Tour, I hope he finds enough wisdom to FINALY address publicly that advertising violence against gays is stupid and that he condom some of his past actions. Can he remove the song Boom Bye Bye from Internet stores so we can move further. Rasta Got Soul? Then prove it.

September 19, 2009: Three Elephant Man concerts cancelled in Europe
After performing at a few festivals in the United States, Elephant Man is currently touring Europe. Three of his concerts were cancelled due to LGBT pressure: Mainz, Germany (September 19), Oerlikon, Switzerland (September 24) and Düsseldorf, Germany (September 25) (ReggaeVille.com) (Dancehall.Mobi)

September 20, 2009: The Gleaner: denouncing violence in dancehall music through Gully/Gaza war
This text is of general interst. It is not focussing on homophobia. TEXT FROM ARTICLE: When some academics were talking mumbo-jumbo and making all kinds of absurd excuses and rationalisation for the decadence in the dancehall, engaging in pathetic shadow boxing, I confronted their intellectual cowardice. The Gaza (Vybz Kartel) -Gully (Mavado) war is symptomatic of a larger aggressively intolerant, divisive and tribalistic culture. It is not dancehall music which caused what is happening in the dancehall today. The foundation was there before dancehall - a well-laid foundation built by our politicians and ruling class. But dancehall has reinforced and given strength to it. This is a distinction that my detractors have never been able to see. Negative dancehall promotes and legitimises a subculture of violence and aggression. There was rivalry between ska greats Prince Buster and Derrick Morgan and each had his following. There was no report of people stabbing up one another over who was playing Derrick Morgan songs or who was playing Buster. Rivalry is not bad in itself. Rivalry can promote creativity, innovation and productivity. (More on the link below). (Jamaica Gleaner)

October 10, 2009: Another cancellation for Elephant Man in Toronto
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: A Jamaican dancehall artist accused of homophobia will not perform in Toronto today after promoters cancelled his concert because of protests over his controversial lyrics. Downsview Park had originally insisted that Elephant Man could play but would be asked to refrain from speaking any homophobic lyrics. In a statement posted on the park's website Thursday, the venue announced that Elephant Man had been dropped from the bill "due to public pressure that arose over the controversial nature of some of the performer's lyrics contained in his much earlier works." The entire Champions in Action concert has been cancelled because Elephant Man was a large part of it, the statement said. The statement said another Champions in Action concert would be planned in the future, but that a date had not been set. (More on the links below).  
(Toronto Star)

October 12, 2009: Buju Banton sits down with LGBT activists
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: In what may be a groundbreaking and possibly historical event, controversial reggae star Buju Banton met with representatives from the LGBT community this afternoon. Banton has been a frequent target of gay rights protesters for his 1992 song "Boom Bye Bye," which activists say glorifies murder and violence directed at gays. Before the dialogue, Banton's show at the Rock It Room scheduled for tonight (October 12) appeared in jeopardy of cancellation due to protest. Yet after the face-to-face exchange, the LGBT activists not only agreed to let the show continue as planned, but expressed optimism about the possibility of further dialogue and action, toward a human rights agenda inclusive of both LBGT concerns and the reggae community.The LGBT acvists, led by Petrelis and Shorter, voiced their concerns over homophobic lyrics and anti-gay violence in Jamaica directly to Banton, and suggested various things he could do to promote human rights, such as a town hall meeting in Jamaica. Banton, in turn, pointed to additional context, such as colonialism and the Jamaican government's homophobic laws. He denied he is a hate speech or murder music artist, as his critics have insisted. "Let's face the reality," Banton said. "Whatever is said in a positive light can't get out." On the topic of the controversial tune, he added, "I don't perform the song anymore. The reality is, I've gone past that."... "I don't advocate violence, Rastafari is not about that," he added. Two days later, he was interviewed on Mutabaruka' Cutting Edge show, a Jamaican Takl-show). Baton: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs 'there is no end to the war between me and faggot' and it's clear.
(Petrelis Files) (San Francisco Weekly) In Jamaican press: (Jamaica Observer) (Jamaica Gleaner) (Jamaica Star)
(Carolyn Cooper To The Rescue) ( Maria Gulatta of Amnesty International)


Peter Tatchell, international coodinator of the Stop Murder Music campaign, was very disapointed with the result: "This meeting is a big propaganda victory for Banton. He can now use it to show that he has dialogue with the LGBT community. It will be ruthlessly exploited by his management to undermine the LGBT campaign and the concert cancellations. I am shocked that no one seem to have asked Banton to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act . This was the least that he should have been asked to do. Contrary to his claims, Banton has part performed Boom Bye Bye in recent years and he profits from continuing sales of this song. He still makes money from urging the killing of faggots. Did no one make this point to him?Just look at Banton's record of lies and broken promises".

October 13, 2009: Fans Pepper Sprayed at Buju Banton Concert
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Last night, fans of controversial reggae star Buju Banton were pepper-sprayed by an unknown assailant during Banton's concert at the Rock It Room. The assault occurred during the show, when, according to the Rock It Room's booker, Ben Thompson, someone let loose with pepper spray. "This happened directly in the middle of the dance floor, in front of Buju's backup singers," he said. He added that the three singers were all affected by the pepper spray, and Gramps Morgan, Banton's opening act, was also affected. "It got in my eyes and throat," Morgan said. Before the concert, a small group of protestors stood outside chanting slogans and attempting to engage clubgoers in dialogue about Banton's lyrics. Thompson says the protesters left before the pepper spray incident and never entered the venue. "My side is simple," says Pollo Del Mar. "We showed up. It was a peaceful protest. Violence of any kind is unacceptable," he adds. (more on the link below)
(San Francisco Weekly)

October 14, 2009: Buju Banton interview on Mutabaruka's Cutting Edge talk-show
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs 'there is no end to the war between me and faggot' and it's clear. The same night after I met with them (gay associates), they pepper-sprayed the concert. So what are you trying to tell me?" claimed Banton who phoned Mutabaruka's Cutting Edge talk-show on Wednesday in order to clarify his meeting in the US gay capital. "I owe dem nothing, they don't owe I nothing." Buju said that he felt legally and not financially compelled to meet the group. The gay activists in San Francisco reportedly want the proceeds from 'Boom Bye Bye' to be donated to J-FLAG. They also want Banton to hold a town hall meeting in Kingston about the need to respect gays."Them come with demands which I and I a go flop dem right now, because give thanks to my culture and upbringing I coulda never endorse them things. I can't sell myself out, neither would I do that in a thousand years,"... "I have two-and-a-half more weeks and let me tell you this, if a show has been cancelled or postponed by this group of people, it has been picked up and replaced in another venue. Let the struggle continue," said Banton. J-FLAG remains resolute in its position that no agreement can be reached between Banton and the gay community until (a) he desists from publicly performing Boom Bye-Bye and (b) repudiates the call for the "murder" of gay and lesbian Jamaicans. "These are the minimum conditions required by decency for him to be absolved of his incitement of violence against these groups. Anything less is mere farce and a public relations stunt to garner support for his music," noted J-FLAG. The meeting's participants wanted Banton to give the proceeds from the song to J-FLAG, hold a pro-gay town hall meeting and sing pro-gay lyrics. These requests were berated by Banton and also J-FLAG. "J-FLAG is under no illusion that Mr Myrie or other DJs of his ilk will ever be minded to produce music that preaches the dignity of all life, including that of gays and lesbians. Neither do we expect contributions of any sort from them. In fact, such an engagement with the gay community is not our goal," said J-FLAG. On August 7, the Jamaica Star ran a story on Mutabaruka's top 100 Most Influential Jamaican Recordings, where the song Boom Bye Bye was rank at number 24.
(Jamaica Observer 1) (Jamaica Observer 2) THE TALK-SHOW POSTED ON YouTube: (Cutting Edge (part 1)) (Cutting Edge (part 2)) (Cutting Edge (part 3))

PERSONNAL COMMENT TO BUJU BANTON: You proved once again that you are not ready to move on. You have the arrogance to walk in this life pretending that you don't owe people anything. Your song is just not any hate song: it has become the Carribean anthem to gay bashing. Denouncing, publicly in Jamaica, the violence promoted in your song and stating that it will not be performed again is the least you can do. I agree with J-FLAG: expecting that you to give the royalties that you earn from that song is asking too much in the Jamaican dancehall context, although any decent soul who as matured would have done this.





October 14, 2009: Time for an interlude: One Love | Playing For Change | Song Around the World
My friend just send me that link for that wonderful video. It was released earlier this year, on Bob Marley's birthday. Take five minutes, you won't regret it. The introduction text from YouTube: "From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes an incredible rendition of the legendary Bob Marley song "One Love" with Keb' Mo' and Manu Chao. This is the third video from the documentary and a follow up to the classic "Stand By Me" and the incredible "Don't Worry." Released in celebration of Bob Marley's birthday on February 6th, this tribute to the legend is performed by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it traveled the globe". One Love is the third video from the documentary. Two months later they released the fourth video, another Bob Marley classic: War/No More Trouble. (One Love videoclip) (War/No More Trouble videoclip) (Playing For Change: Peace Through Music)

October 25, 2009: Debating the new Jamaican Charter of Rights: nothing for gays & lesbians
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: ...Pointing to the Charter of Rights, which is intended to replace Chapter Three of the Constitution, Carla Gulatta of Amnesty International, warned that the proposed amendment could end up being but a shell if greater steps are not taken to protect the rights of all Jamaicans. "The full plan of the Charter of Rights, little by little, has changed .... little by little, it has been made poor and poorer. In the way that it is now, it is going to be like a picture on the wall because it won't have any use for the ones who need to be assisted," Gulatta said. The Amnesty International representative wants the amendment to the Constitution to give full freedom of choice to all Jamaicans. She argued that even though it appears that such freedom is guaranteed, there are clauses which take that back. (more on the link below) (Jamaica Gleaner: Amnesty International) (Jamaica Gleaner Editorial) (Jamaica Gleaner: Debate Ends) (Jamaica Gleaner: Jamaicans For Justice)

November 2, 2009: Testimony from a Caribbean lesbian activist
TEXT FROM IGLHRC: We would like to honor Chaco Burnette, better known as "Chocolate," from Georgetown, Guyana, a respected leader in the local trans and sex worker communities, who passed away on October 31st, 2009. Chaco participated in the first regional conference for transgender activists from the Caribbean supported by IGLHRC and CVC, which was held last September in Curacao. She was hospitalized last Saturday after suffering from what appeared to be a case of dementia. Her health had deteriorated significantly in the last few weeks but during that time she nevertheless spoke positively about her experience in Curacao, even leading a debriefing session on the conference for her peers. We had the joy of sharing exceptional moments of work, activism and achievement with her and feel her presence in our hearts. IGLHRC joins in sadness with activists from Guyana and those to whom she was close.
(testimony from Chaco Burnette) (another testimonie: Donovan Emmanuel)

November 11, 2009: Gays in Jamaica worship in underground church (videoclip)
INTRODUCTION FROM WEBSITE. Jamaica is often said to hold the world record for the most churches per square mile. There’s a public place of worship for almost everyone — unless you’re gay. If you are, you must worship in secret. Correspondent Lisa Biagiotti, producer Micah Fink and director of photography Gabrielle Weiss report on the secret underground church that is welcoming gay men and women to practice their faith. Reverend Robert Griffin, an American priest, leads the secret church. He believes religion is at the heart of Jamaica culture of homophobia, and the time has come to reinterpret the Bible for modern times.
(WorldFocus video) (MARCH 2010: The Huffington Post) (JANUARY 2010: The Gleaner: Don't Crucify Gay-Rights Activists)

November 16, 2009: Seven Beenie Man concerts axed in Australia & New Zealand
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: All of Beenie Man's Australian and New Zealand concert dates have been cancelled. This follows protests by gay rights groups, including the Australian Coalition for Equality. It also follows representations to the tour organisers by Peter Tatchell of OutRage!, acting on behalf of the international Stop Murder Music campaign. "These concert cancellations will hit Beenie Man hard in the pocket. He has lost tens of thousands of dollars. The success of this campaign sends a warning message to all murder music artists: inciting homophobic violence will cost you money. You will lose out big time," said Mr Tatchell. Beenie Man had been scheduled to perform in January 2010 at Big Day Out concerts in the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and in the New Zealand city of Auckland (more on the link below).
(Peter Tatchell article) (Big Day Out Press Release) (Beenie Man concerts)

November 25, 2009: LGBT Issues Make Inroads at Commonwealth Summit in Trinidad
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: For or the first time at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, at CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago, there was significant representation of GLBTQ (gay/lesbian/ bisexual/ transgender/ queer) activists among civil society participants, and a concerted effort to highlight issues of sexual citizenship and rights. A delegation of GLBTQ activists from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean participated actively in the thematic assembly discussions and drafting process in the November 22-25, 2009 Commonwealth People’s Forum (CPF), a gathering of civil society organizations that meets in advance of, and sends a statement to, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Working in partnership with gender, disabilities and other human rights advocates, they achieved visibility for a number of key concerns, and won inclusion of these issues in the broad civil society agenda for the Commonwealth. The issues cut a wide swath: repealing laws criminalizing non-normative sexualities and gender expression; preventing and prosecuting bias-related murders and violence, including punitive rape of Lesbians; ending discrimination in accessing health services; creating safety in the school system from violence and bullying; addressing the need for support and resources for parents; and developing training and sensitization for a range of public servants and service providers. (more on the link below).
(GLBTIQ Issues Make Inroads at Commonwealth Summit) (Uganda Anti-Homosexual Bill)

November 27, 2009: Bounty Killer concert cancelled in California – Re-scheduled and cancelled again!
According to Redwood Times, Bounty Killer was supposed to make his only North Coast apperance by performing in Arcata, California on November 28. The concert was cancelled two days before the event. It was then re-scheduled at Red Fox Tavern, in Eureka, California. According to the information founds on a blog, the second performance was also cancelled. Rodney Pryce, the musician real name, was recently in Jamaican court (October 15 and November 11) for an illegal possession of a firearm, assault on a policeman, obstructing traffic, disobeying a red light and refusing to take a breathalyser test.
(Redwood Times) (North Coast Journal) (Humboldt Against Hate) (Reuters)

December 2, 2009: Buju Banton nominated for Grammy – LGBT groups denounce his nomination
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Jamaica’s Buju Banton, the reggae artist whose anti-gay anthem "Boom Bye Bye" drew protesters and led to a number of canceled concert dates across the United States during his latest tour, has been nominated for a Grammy. The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has issued a statement denouncing the nomination. "We’re shocked that Buju Banton, a singer with a long record of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people, would be honored with a Grammy nomination, regardless of the artistic merit of any of his work," said Jim Key, the Center’s Chief Public Affairs Officer. (more on the link below)
(CaribbeanWorldNews) (Edge Boston) (GLAAD: petition to protest the nomination (for US residents))

December 5, 2009: Beenie Man promotes violence in Uganda – PepsiCo appologize for sponsorship
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. AProtests by Change.org, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), OutRage! and others have persuaded PepsiCo to climb down and apologise, after it sponsored a concert in Uganda by "murder music" singer Beenie Man who encourages the killing of lesbians and gay men. At his Ugandan concert on Saturday 5 December, Beenie Man sang the song, 'Mi Nah Wallah', which includes a call to cut the throats of gay people. Following protests, Pepsi expressed regret over their sponsorship of Beenie Man. In a statement to Change.org PepsiCo said: "We are appalled by the performer's lyrics and find them repugnant. Our bottling partner in Uganda was not aware of the performer's views and never would have sponsored the concert with this knowledge...Moving forward, we will work closely with our bottling partners to be more vigilant about the events associated with our brands." (more on the link below)
(Peter Tatchell.net) (Daily Monitor – Uganda report) (Globe And Mail: Uganda Anti-Homosexual Bill)

December 9, 2009: Beenie Man concert cancelled in Toronto
TEXT FROM ARTICLE (article written on December 15, but concert cancelled on December 9)
The King of Dancehall, Beenie Man, was scheduled to play Kool Haus this past weekend (on December 12) – until a single Facebook comment triggered a deluge of complaints that alerted the promoters to the Jamaican singer’s homophobic lyrical content and his recent concert in Uganda, where his song about killing gay men served as veritable anthem of hate for that country’s pending anti-gay legislation. Just 42 hours after posting a comment on the events page for concert promoters INK Entertainment (club owner Charles Khabouth’s entertainment empire, which also includes Sky Lounge, Tattoo Rock Parlour and Ultra Supper Club), Justin Stayshyn – frequent Tweeter and former member of queer-positive indie-pop ensemble The Hidden Cameras – was relieved to read that the company had decided not to let Beenie Man play in their venue. The key to this protest’s success, however, was not so much the magic of social media – or even the recent popularity of online whinging – but the tone of Stayshyn’s discourse. Stayshyn claims he had been trying to get in touch with someone at INK since last Monday (Dec. 7) so that he could tactfully explain why they should reconsider Beenie Man’s appearance. He prefaced his calls, and an email outlining Beenie Man’s involvement in Uganda, with a reassurance that his complaints weren't intended to be malicious. “I just wanted to start a dialogue,” he says.
(EyeWeekly)

December 12, 2009: Buju Banton faces drug charges in Miami
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Buju Banton, the Jamaican reggae star whose anti-gay lyrics have drawn international criticism, is in a federal lockup in Miami, facing drug conspiracy charges. Drug Enforcement Administration agents say Banton, real name Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in custody since Thursday (December 10) and will soon be transferred to Tampa, where the U.S. Attorney is charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilos of cocaine. (more on the link below)
(Miami Herald)
NOTE: This news has very little to do with the content of this website. I hesitate before including it, but if he is found guilty, Buju Banton won't be touring for a while and people who follow the debate needs to know why.

December 29, 2009: Guyanese makes music history
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Singer Nhojj, a US-based Guyanese who performed at Guyana Fashion Weekend 2008 had much to celebrate this past Christmas. His song ‘Love’ has won the 2009 OutMusic Award for Outstanding R&B/Soul Song of the year. Those in the music business have opined that Guyanese should be proud of this recognition as “This marks the first time that a Black male has won any OutMusic Award”. The category along with others was added to the ceremony this year to fully reflect the music of the minority (LGBT) community. Unlike many current R&B music videos, it is the sensitive reflection of two male college students who feel a mutual attraction toward each other. In 2004, Nhojj’s sophomore CD “Someday Peace, Love & Freedom” was nominated for OUTStanding New Male Recording. Songs on that album covered issues ranging from homelessness to homophobia. Nhojj chose “Fighting for Love,” an original composition about a warrior fighting against ignorance and hatred, to perform at a special OMA Nominee showcase held at Fez in NYC that year. (more on the link below)
(Kaieteur News)

January 2, 2010: Bounty Killer's homophobic speach at Jamaican charity concert
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Shaggy hosted the first annual Shaggy and Friends 'I Dare You' concert on the lawns of Jamaica House in Kingston. The proceeds for this fund-raiser were in aid of the Bustamante Hospital for Children... Shaggy who was scheduled to bring the curtains down, however, what would transpire would cast a shadow, if only for a moment, on an excellent evening of entertainment for a great cause. Having introduced Mavado, who was supposed to make a pledge, the Gully God then called on his 'father', Bounty Killer. Bounty Killer then entered the stage to a cheers from the crowd. Those cheers would easily die away and make for a moment of relative silence and a few dropped jaws as the deejay came out blaring, "batyman and battyman we nuh waa dem aroun mi " part of the chorus to his 1997 hit, Eagle And Di Hawk on the Showtime Riddim. "Sorry but me haffi talk," he then said before continuing, "nuff a dem a battyman dats why dem nuh have nuh pickney ..." Wrong move, The concert would come to an abrupt end when Killer made statements alluding to homosexuals. (more on the link below)
(ReggaeMe.com) (Jamaica Star) (Jamaica Observer) (YardFlex) (OutRoad)

January 6, 2010: Santa Cruz article 'One Hate, One Fear'
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Andy Samberg’s brilliant Saturday Night Live character “Ras Trent” navigates a day in the life of a reggae-loving college student, from the “shanty dorm” to his part-time job at “Jah Cold Stone Creamery” and, of course, his DVD of Cool Runnings. The skit is hilarious because everyone knows a suburban “rude boy,” complete with the blonde dreadlocks and Bob Marley silkscreen, who smokes way too much weed. Reggae music is pervading our culture like never before, from annual festivals to skanking reggae remakes of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Dark Side of the Moon. But even the clownish Ras Trent can’t escape the ugly side of modern reggae. “Oh, fire pon Babylon,” he croons in an exaggeratedly American accent, “and fire pon a batty boy.” The satire gains surprising accuracy with the term “batty boy,” a Jamaican slur for a gay man that’s appeared in many incendiary songs over the past 20 years, each shifting further the genre’s image of love and harmony toward a reality of violence and bigotry. (more on the link below)
(SantaCruz.com)

January 19, 2010: What is the situation of gays and lesbians in Ethiopia?
On January 19, I received an email that promote ILGA's new project: "What's Your Activism?" By browsing through the answers, I found out a link that introduce the very sad situation of gays & lesbians in Ethiopia. As reggae music is closely bounded with Ethiopia, I decided to include it on this webpage. The text that I wrote on "What's your Activism" can be found by clicking on 'OLDER' at the bottom of the page. You will find it when you reach the texts posted in January 2010.

TEXT FROM ZEGA WEBSITE. Like other oppressive homophobic governments & society homosexuality remains illegal & totally taboo in Ethiopia. Ethiopia's government took a strong move to ban same-sex relationship even between consensual same sex adult in the criminal & penal code of the country chapter 600/601 from 5-10 years hard imprisonment. Any acts of showing this behavior will end in imprisonment with sever corporal punishment & torture. This in turn violate Ethiopia’s own Constitution and the analogous provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (i.e. articles 2, 3, 11, and 28) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (i.e. articles 2, 18, 19, 21, 22, and 26). The legislators called homosexuality an affront to Christianity and Islam. Since, this sexual orientation does not conform to the legendary tale & primitive ideology of ultraconservative society; gays & lesbians of Ethiopia prefer to live hidden behind the curtains with lack of confidence & constant fear. Ethiopia has an ever growing gay & lesbian's population from time to time; the society thinks homosexuality as a western influence (foreign import) & inexcusable sin. Therefore, gays & lesbians of Ethiopia are suffering a lot from the government's hostility. Stigma, violence, discrimination, hatred, disrespect, intimidation, abuse, harassment, negative attitude, economic deprivation social injustice, kangaroo court trial, extra-judicial killing & even worse murder. The refusal of the Ethiopian governments to address violence committed against LGBT people creates a culture of impunity where such abuses can continue and escalate unmitigated. (more on the link below)
(ZEGA Ethiopia) (DESMOND TUTU'S text in Washington Post)

January 31, 2010: Grammy Doesn't Honor Buju Banton
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Buju Banton lost the Grammy for Best Reggae Album Sunday night amid protests from gay rights groups over his hate-filled lyrics. The award instead went to Stephen Marley, the son of Bob Marley, according to early reporting from MTV. Banton, who couldn't attend the ceremonies because he's currently in jail in Florida awaiting trial on cocaine-related charges, recently told the media he "sees no end to the war" between him and the gays in his music. His 1988 song "Boom Bye Bye" advocated brutal violence against gays and lesbians. Last week gay rights groups, including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, took out an ad in Daily Variety denouncing Banton and urging the Grammys to denounce homophobia in music and any art "that promotes or celebrates violence against any group of people." In a reply, the Recording Academy said that it honors artists "regardless of politics" and that "artists of a variety of political or cultural perspectives have been nominated or featured on the telecast."
(Advocate.com) (PinkNews)

NOTE: The five nominees for 'Best Reggae Album': 'Mind Control Acoustic' (by Stephen Marley), 'Rasta Got Soul' (by Buju Banton), 'Brand New Me' (by Gregory Isaac), 'Awake' (by Julian Marley), 'Imperial Blaze' (by Sean Paul).

February 2, 2010: Tjenbé Rèd actions against Sizzla tour in France
TEXT FROM PRESS RELEASE. Sizzla, a singer characterised by his homophobic and racist comments and lyrics, is returning to France. Tjenbé Rèd sends out an alert to human rights organisations in Strasburg, Nantes, Brest, Paris,Villeurbanne, Lyon and Lille. Tjenbé Rèd is an Afro-West Indian association dedicated to the fight against all forms of racism, homophobia, and against AIDS. It is also the French section of the international network Stop Murder Music. It makes this appeal to all groups who defend human rights in Strasburg, Nantes, Brest, Paris, Villeurbanne, Lyon and Lille: It is up to you to demonstrate, to warn elected representatives, to instigate legal proceedings if necessary to put a stop to hatred. (more on the link below)

(Tjenbé Rès Press Release ENGLISH 1) (Tjenbé Rès Press Release FRENCH 1) (Tjenbé Rès Press Release BILINGUAL 2) (Tjenbé Rès Press Release ENGLISH 3) (Tjenbé Rès Press Release FRENCH 3)

NOTE 1: On February 25th, the website Reggae.fr announced that the entire French tour was cancelled. Garance Productions issued a press release for the concert in Paris, saying 'the concert was cancelled due to reasons that were against our will'. Some people suggested that the French tour was cancelled due to Sizzla's arrestation in Jamaica on January 27th, related to a shooting incident that occured in August Town, St. Andrew, Jamaica. Four days later, he was released without charge'. According to the website Reggaeville.com, the following concerts were cancelled: Strasbourg (February 25), Nantes (February 26), Brest (February 27), Paris (February 28), Lyon (March 2) and Lille (March 11) The webiste doesn't mentionned Villerbanne (March 1), but I assumed it was also cancelled, (YardFlex 1) (YardFlex 2) (Reggae.fr) (Sizzla's concerts)..

NOTE 2: I am not in accordance at all with the list of 100 singers that Tjenbé Rèd published in the second press release (page 37) as being 'concerned' with the Stop Murder Music' campaign (see the link upper). I have written to the organisation, but until the moment of writing these lines, my request to remove or modify this list was ignored.

February 3, 2010: Jamaica Observer colum: Why are Jamaicans so homophobic?
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Dear Editor, I recently returned from an International Human Rights conference where I was bombarded with questions about Jamaica's human rights situation which I proudly defended. However, one question stumped me. Participants wanted to know the source of Jamaicans' fear and contempt of gays. Sadly, I could not provide an intelligent reply. Those participants just couldn't reconcile Jamaica's warm, welcoming, "one love, live and let live" reputation with the virulent homophobia as expressed in the February 1 Observer article in which President of the Islamic Council of Jamaica Mustafa Muhammed advocated death for homosexuals.'As a secular state we are obliged to recognise, among other things, rights to freedom of expression and privacy as long as those rights do not represent a serious danger to public health, morality, or public safety, yet we appreciate the threat of unchecked fundamentalism of the type advocated by this Muslim leader. So why are Jamaicans so concerned by what consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedrooms? What do we fear will happen? (more on the link below)
(Jamaica Observer: Open Letter) (Jamaica Observer: Muslim Leader Blast Gay Lifestyle)

February 12, 2010: Four Capleton concerts cancelled in California
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Capleton, the controversial Jamaican reggae singer whose lyrics glorify killing gay people, has been booted off the bill of this weekend's Ragga Muffins Festival, organizers said. Capleton was scheduled to appear on Sunday's portion of the two-day concert (February 20-21), which takes place at the Long Beach Arena. "We can't put people on the show who are advocating violence against any group of people," said Moss Jacobs, co-producer of the Ragga Muffins Festival. Following Jacobs decision, other reggae promoters have cancelled Capleton concerts scheduled for Feb. 15 in San Diego and Feb. 20 in Oakland, Jacobs said. Michael Petrelis: "Capleton made cosmetic changes (after signing the Reggae Compassionate Act) because he wants American cash. We in the gay community are not satisfied with cosmetic changes. I applaud the promoters for cancelling Capleton's engagement and not profiting from homo-hate." (more on the link below)
(PressTelegram) (Ragga Muffin Festival) (Capleton's list of concerts)

NOTE: According to my research, the four concerts that were scheduled in California were canceled: San Diego (February 15), San Louis Obispo (February 17), Oakland (February 20) and Long Beach (February 21). Read Capleton's phony Press Release. Remember that he did not respect the RCA and that he called for the killing on gays onstage in Jamaica, in December 2007. Look under December 25, 2007 in this section for the YouTube clip and transcript.

February 17, 2010: Gully, Gaza, gays, gender part of Int'l Reggae Conference
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. The second International Reggae Conference begins on Wednesday evening with an opening ceremony at The Ruins, Mona Visitors' Lodge, UWI (Kingston Jamaica). Then over the following three days, various persons will present papers and there will also be performances and a visit to August Town. Topics specific to dancehall music are part of the conference, organised under the leadership of Reggae Studies lecturer Dr Donna Hope Marquis. Gaza and gully, gays and gender are all part of the mix and Marquis will present on the first panel dealing specifically with dancehall. She will speak on 'Dancehall, Violence and Jamaican Youth: An Empirical Synopsis' while Fania Alemanno will present 'Dancehall, Women and Sport: A Preliminary Overview'. (more on the link below) (second article on February 20th)
(Jamaica Star)

February 17, 2010: Voices from the New Generation: wonderful article
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. In Jamaica a country known as one of the most homophobic places in the world, young people are challenging the status quo of intolerance. A young man from a conservative family in rural Jamaica recently confided to me that five of his close friends are gay. He observed that although he did not share their sexual preferences, he understood that their sexual orientation didn’t define them. “They are more than gay,” he told me. “They are smart, eloquent and very good friends. There is a lot I can learn from them.” Many young people in Jamaica hold similar views. And while they are not often involved in activism, they maintain a good relationship with their gay peers. It is also common for youth leaders in schools and communities to discreetly promote acceptance of sexual diversity. You will rarely hear them playing gay-bashing music, even though such music is common in Jamaica.It is mainly because of such youth tolerance that a vibrant gay community flourishes on our island. Scores of homosexual men and women bask in the opportunity to live “freely”—important indicators that our island of sun, sea and sand might someday fully allow people to live as they choose without prejudice or discrimination. But in order for that to happen, much more needs to be done. And I am proud to be deeply involved in my generation’s efforts to win cultural and legal acceptance for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. (more on the link below)
(Americas Quarterly)

February 19, 2010: Guyana cross-dressing lawsuit: Just first step to bring changes
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. On February 19th a motion was filed in Guyana’s high court to challenge a law that criminalized cross-dressing, and under which seven persons were arrested in 2009 and charged with wearing female attire. Four – Quincy McEwan, Seon Clarke, Joseph Fraser and Seyon Persaud – have brought the constitutional challenge, with the support of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and a group of lawyers, including from the recently established University of the West Indies Rights Advocate Project (U-RAP). Sunday’s Trinidad Express cites local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocates who say this case will have far-reaching effects region-wide. (more on the link below)
(Stabroek News 1) (Stabroek News 2) (Trinidad Express)
The 2009 articles about this case: (Stabroek News 1) (Stabroek News 2) (Stabroek News: peoples opinions)

February 20, 2010: In'l Reggae Conference: "Jamaican Music in Europe: The Homophobia Debate"
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: With the 2010 International Reggae Conference heading to a close last Saturday (February 20th) at the Assembly Hall, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus, a German tag team of reggae writers did an excellent job of analysing the situation with gays, Germany and Jamaican music. Presenting alternately as they gave the historical, cultural and legal setting of the imbroglio in which Jamaican music has found itself, Pete Lilly and Ellen Köhlings of Riddim magazine summed up just how Jamaican music is being used by both gay rights groups and the performers themselves. "They are looking for cheap forwards, just as the artistes performing cheap gay lyrics are looking for cheap forwards themselves," Köhlings said as she read the final segment of the hour-long presentation. (more on the link below)
(Jamaica Gleaner) (Jamaica Observer)

NOTE: If you are trilled by their analysis of the crisis, you can find other comments by the same team upper on this page in August 2009. Look under February 16, 2010 for an article that introduced the International Reggae Conference.

February 26, 2010: Sizzla vs The Reggae Compassionate Act (Mugabe's 86 birthday)
TEXT FROM TWO ARTICLES. Jamaican reggae superstar Sizzla has been enlisted by President Robert Mugabe’s supporters to kick-off a weekend of celebrations in Bulawayo to mark the veteran leader’s 86th birthday. Sizzla will headline a night of celebration at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Grounds on Friday, joined by a host of regional and local stars including South Africa’s Soul Brothers and acclaimed poet, Mzwakhe Mbuli. In an interview made for the event, he was asked the following question: "I understand you were made to sign some documents that forbid you from singing anti-gay songs when you are in Europe. What is your position on gay relationships?" Sizzla's answer:" The preachings and teachings of the Most High say that it is not right for a man to be with another man or a woman with another woman. All of us wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the union of a man and woman. Family is a basic unit in society. I support the royal family set-up of a king and a queen. I did not sign any papers, it is just an agreement I have with certain promoters — it is their system. I cannot stop singing those songs because there is a message in those songs which people should hear". (more on the link below)
(New Zimbabwe) (Zimbabwe's The Sunday Mail Leisure) (Mail & Guardian Video Interview)

March 12, 2010: Desmond Tutu: "In Africa, a step backward on human rights"
TEXT FROM ARTICLE. Hate has no place in the house of God. No one should be excluded from our love, our compassion or our concern because of race or gender, faith or ethnicity -- or because of their sexual orientation. Nor should anyone be excluded from health care on any of these grounds. In my country of South Africa, we struggled for years against the evil system of apartheid that divided human beings, children of the same God, by racial classification and then denied many of them fundamental human rights. We knew this was wrong. Thankfully, the world supported us in our struggle for freedom and dignity. It is time to stand up against another wrong. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God's family. And of course they are part of the African family. But a wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent. People are again being denied their fundamental rights and freedoms. Men have been falsely charged and imprisoned in Senegal, and health services for these men and their community have suffered. In Malawi, men have been jailed and humiliated for expressing their partnerships with other men. Just this month, mobs in Mtwapa Township, Kenya, attacked men they suspected of being gay. Kenyan religious leaders, I am ashamed to say, threatened an HIV clinic there for providing counseling services to all members of that community, because the clerics wanted gay men excluded. (more on the link below)
(DESMOND TUTU'S text in Washington Post) (IGLHR Statement on the situation of Human Rights Violation in Africa)

RECENT PROBLEMS FACE BY THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN AFRICA: (MAY 2010: Zimbabwe) (MAY 2010: Malawi (part 3)) (MAY 2010: Malawi (part 2)) (MARCH 2010: Kenya (part 1)) (MARCH 2010: Kenya (part 2)) (DECEMBER 2009: Malawi (part 1)) (FEBRUARY 2010: Malawi) (DECEMBER 2009: Rwanda (part 1)) (DECEMBER 2009: Rwanda (part 2)) (NOVEMBER 2009: Uganda) (FEBRUARY 2009: Burundi (part 2)) (DECEMBER 2008: Senegal) (NOVEMBER 2008: Burundi (part 1))

March 19, 2010: Anti-Discrimination walk in Suriname
Suriname has celebrated its 'Anti-Discrimination Week', which was organised by the National Youth Parlement (NJP). One of their activities was the 'Anti-Discrimination Walk' on Friday March 19th. Over 5000 people took part in this walk, mostly schools. This year, the first lady together with the minister of Education and the American Ambassador in Suriname took part. A high level of stigma and discrimination against gays still remains in Suriname. For the first time, a small group of gays and lesbians proudly joined the walk, identified to the Suriname Men United group, which was the only civil society organisation to be present in the walk. (no article – text composed with information found on a newsgoup)
(Suriname Men United)

March 24, 2010: Guyanese gay singer's video 'Love' reach No.1 on MTV
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Gay singer-songwriter Nhojj made music history twice in the past year – first as the only black male ever to win an OUTMusic Award for his song “Love,” and then, more remarkably, hitting the coveted number 1 spot on MTV’s music video chart this month. The “Love” video is a narrative that culminates in two young black men embracing in a bed. Nhojj’s sensual vocals drive the imagery, singing, “Our thighs now meet, our souls are singing, harmony sweet.” But Nhojj’s life’s trajectory was just as unpredictable as the success of his explicitly gay music video. Born in Guyana and raised in Trinidad, Nhojj was brought up in an extremely religious Caribbean family that still struggles to fully understand his homosexuality. Nhojj moved to the United States to attend New York University, where he studied economics. He talks to The Advocate about how he ended up in music and how honesty and “Love” have brought him so much in return. (more on the link below)
(The Advocate) (videoclip for LOVE) (Trailer for the movie BLUEPRINT)
NOTE: OK it's not Dancehall or reggae... still related. Positive comments and vision. I suggest you take the time to read the 4-page article.

March 26, 2010: Barbados PM says no to Mavado/Vybz Kartel 'peace & unity' show
NOTE: Although these two artists have homophobic songs, this cancelation is not related to homophobic music. It's more about the Gully/Gaza conflict and the gang violence associated with their rivalry, although the two artists are now performing together in what they call a 'peace & unity' concert. For more info, look under September 20, 2009. The concert was scheduled for Saturday March 27.

TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Following weeks of intense public debate and front page headlines in Barbados, the Mavado, Vybz Kartel unity concert scheduled for this weekend has been officially cancelled. Prime Minister David Thompson made the announcement at a press conference held yesterday, exactly two days before the event. Thompson is quoted in the Barbados Advocate as saying: "That quest to do the right thing by Barbadians prompted my request for the meeting with the organisers of the proposed show and I am happy to announce that in deference to the expressed wishes and the anxieties of a very wide cross-section of Barbadians, that the organisers of the Mavado/Vybz Kartel show and Youth Forum have agreed to the revamping of initiatives resulting in the cancellation of this weekend's activities." (more on the link below)
(Jamaica Observer)

April 1, 2010: Top entertainers visas revoked
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: The visas of five of Jamaica’s top entertainers have been revoked. According to information from the Fraud Prevention Arm of the United States Embassy in Kingston, the visas of Bounty Killer, Mavado, Beenie Man, Adonia and selector Ricky Trooper are now being cancelled. A document obtained through our sources advised airlines not to allow any of the entertainers on flights bound for the United States. The cancellations follow that of businessman Wayne Chen who recently found out his visa had been revoked while he was about to board a flight to America. University law professor David Rowe had predicted that there would have been visa cancellations as backlash for the Government’s denial of the extradition request for West Kingston strongman, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. (more on the link below)
(Go Jamaica) (Blog: The Petrelis Files) (Jamaica Observer: Dancehall's Decline) (Jamaica Gleaner) (7 News Belize)
(Jamaica Gleaner (December 2009))

April 1, 2010: Reggay Time: Forum on Jamaica, dancehall music & new LGBT initiatives
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Discussion and dancing. This panel lead forum between Kingston (Jamaica) & San Francisco Bay Area (USA), encourages progressive dialogue and partnerships between Jamaicans and people abroad who are similarly committed to Jamaican self-empowerment, growth, and development. The forum is meant to raise U.S. awareness about dancehall music's current central role in Jamaican culture and society and to present the music in a broader context for our San Francisco Bay Area and LGBT audience. Panelists includes Andrea Shorter (San Francisco), Jonathan Mack (San Francisco), Annie Paul (Kingston), Nic Ming (Kingston). The forum promotes implementing a Jamaica "bUycott": as a socio-politically conscious economic initiative in which LGBT-allied consumers offer their business to Jamaican recording artistes, small exporters, international brands, tourist destinations…etc, with demonstrated progressive human rights attitudes and practices. The forum is to explore some ideas and strategies for organizing and undertaking the LGBT-allied Jamaica bUycott. (more on the link below)
(Reggay Time Advertisement) (Reggae Time Poster) (Annie Paul Blog)

April 7, 2010: Historic March for Tolerance in Montego Bay
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: The Jamaica Aids Support for Life (JASL) yesterday (April 7) headed 13 groups working with persons infected with HIV in a campaign for more tolerance of persons infected with the sexually transmitted disease which has claimed the lives of millions, globally. Amidst much pomp and pageantry, members of groups which included the Jamaica Red Cross; the Sex Workers Association of Jamaica, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians and Gays (J-FLAG); Women for Women (WFW) and persons living with HIV, among others, paraded to the beat of a marching band along the Howard Cooke highway on their way to the popular Dump Up Beach, along the city's waterfront where they massed under a tent. Speeches were then heard from members of the various groups. There were booths from which condoms were issued and free HIV testing.
Ian McKnight chairman of the board of the JASL was heartened with the turnout at the inaugural staging of the event.
"We expected 100 people, one or two of three from each group -- we did not want hangers-on and we have been successful in getting that," Mcknight said. (more on the link below)
(Jamaica Observer 1) (UK Gay News) (Go Jamaica) (Radio Jamaica) (Jamaica Observer 2)
(Jamaica Observer EDITORIAL) (J-FLAG's answer to Jamaica Observer EDITORIAL)
(JASL interview – Jamaica Observer )

LETTERS: (Observer Letter 1) (Observer Letter 2) (Gleaner Letter 1) (Gleaner Letter 2)

NOTE 1: Congratualtion to everyone that participate in this march! May it teach love, peace, respect and tolerance for people who are uncertain on how to react towards people living with AIDS and all marginalised groups in Jamaica.

NOTE 2: Unfortunately it's not every Jamaican newspaper that is pro-active on promoting the event. I don't know the Kingston Chronicle newspaper (or is it a newspaper?). It looks like a non-serious publication by the standard of 'articles' published on their webpage. One of the main contributor/writer needed to express his non-acceptance of diversity by promoting violence.

April 26, 2010: Trinidad & Tobago authorities: no 'gangster' music
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Gilbert Reyes says artistes whose musical content contributes and appears to influence gang-related activity and behaviour will be debarred from entering Trinidad and Tobago in future. Reyes made the comment yesterday, after he made an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Jamaican dancehall artiste, Romain ’Ryno Di Stinger’ Anderson, from entering the country to perform in a concert on the weekend. He said the country had a lot of issues to deal with regarding gang-related crimes, particularly murders and shootings, and therefore could not accept the additional burden of artistes influencing patrons with their gangster-style lyrics at concerts. Anderson managed to slip into the country even though the T&T Police Service was seeking to block his entry last week, Reyes said. He said he had written a letter to National Security Minister Martin Joseph, requesting that Anderson be debarred from entering the country. (more on the link below)
(Trinidad Express)

May 15, 2010: Cuban gays and lesbians march against homophobia
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Hundreds of gay and lesbian activists, some dressed in drag and others sporting multicoloured flags representing sexual diversity, marched and danced through the streets of Havana yesterday along with the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro as part of a celebration aimed at eliminating homophobia around the world. Some of the marchers played drums and others walked on stilts as they made their way down a wide avenue in the capital's hip Vedado neighbourhood where they have held a series of debates and workshops ahead of the May 17 celebration of the International Day Against Homophobia, which participants say marks the day in 1990 when the World Health Organisation stopped listing homosexuality as a mental illness. "We have made progress, but we need to make more progress," said Mariela Castro, a campaigner for gay rights on the island and the leader of Cuba's National Sexual Education Centre. She is also the daughter of Cuban President Raul Castro. Cuba has come a long way in accepting homosexuality. In the 1960s, shortly after the revolution, homosexuals were fired from state jobs and many were imprisoned or sent to work camps. Others fled into exile. (more on the link below)
(Jamaica Observer) (Google News)

May 17, 2010: International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
The International Day Against Homophobia, held on May 17 every year, is a rallying event offering an opportunity for people to get together and reach out to one another. It promote and encourages organisations and individuals to highlight this event in their environment. TEXT FROM IDAHO WEBSITE: In 2008, sexual relations between persons of the same sex were punishable by death in 7 countries and considered to be some form of crime in more than 80 others. In most countries in the world, people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, intersex, queer, ... community are being denied their fundamental human rights as defined, inter alia, by the Universal Declaration of Human Right, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Day has been launched with the idea of creating a worldwide community of activists and committed people, sharing the ideal of a world without homophobia nor transphobia in which everyone can freely live their sexual orientation and the gender identity they wish to live in.
Change is happening: From hate to harmony – From exclusion to inclusion – From stigma to dignity.
(IDAHO website)

NOTE: Today, I decide to share with you two important texts that I've read recently. The first one is the story of Jamal Brown, a young Afro American athlete that came out in his discipline (Track And Field) and that is part of the important photography Exhibition: 'Fearless: A series of portraits of 'Out' LGBT athletes on High School and College Sports Teams' (Jamal Brown story) (Fearless Photography Exhibition). The second Text is about a similar activity to this International Day Against Homophobia. On April 15 2010, a ommemorated a day of silence – vowing not to speak for one 24-hour period as a unified protest action in solidarity with other LGBT and against the treatment members of the community receive from a majority of people. This day of silence was also an occasion to create a crack in the reluctance to speak about depression and its debilitating effects in the Black gay community. In the Black community, there is significant resistance to addressing depression. (Breaking the silence of depression in the Black gay community).

May 17, 2010: 'Stand Against Silence' – Jamaican protest at Emancipation Park
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: "As Jamaicans we remain un-emancipated as long as there are laws which criminalize the private intimate acts of consenting adults." So says the Programme Manager of the Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) , Mr Jason MacFarlane, on the occasion of The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) which is observed annually on May 17th. IDAHO celebrates the removal of homosexuality by the World Health Organisation (WHO) from its list of mental illnesses in 2006 . It also marked a major milestone in the recognition of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. In Jamaica, the day was observed with a 30-minute ‘Stand Against Silence' outside the Emancipation Park. Approximately 30 persons converged on the location, some with their mouths covered, depicting the theme ‘Break the Silence! End the Fear."In keeping with the bold words on his placard "Stop the Hate Before Too Late", Maurice Tomlinson of AIDS Free World reiterated his organization's stance on the position "The irrational hatred and fear of gays drives this vulnerable population underground away from effective HIV prevention interventions. The result is that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has become entrenched in Jamaica, representing a direct threat to the health of the entire Jamaican community. This is one of the reasons why we have willingly cosponsored this event." . (more on the link below)
(UNAIDS) (Jamaica Observer)

May 17, 2010: Trinidad & Tobago – 'Gay Rights' in the Election Campaign
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Leading GLBT group reminds electorate and parties that current Government has already signed T&T onto international commitments to gay rights – twice. Responding to the suggestion by United National Congress/People’s Partnership political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s in a May 16th television interview that her Government would put the matter of “gay rights” to a national referendum and “let the people decide”, Trinidad & Tobago’s leading advocacy voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) citizens is calling on the People’s National Movement (PNM) to clarify for voters the nation’s and that party’s existing commitments to full human rights and equality for GLBT people. The Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO) is asking Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon and Gender Minister Marlene McDonald (all candidates for re-election in the May 24th general election) why they have not disclosed to the nation the PNM Government’s recent support of consecutive resolutions in hemispheric fora that clearly commit the nation to protecting the human rights of GLBT people. CAISO is upset that these pledges have remained invisible in the party’s manifesto, on its campaign platforms, and in recent television interviews by McDonald on gender policy. (more on the link below)
(CAISO Press Release) (CAISO website)

June 8, 2010: Jamaican dancehall artist Ding Dong baned from Trinidad
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Jamaican dancehall artiste, Ding Dong (Kemar Ottey) told the Express on Tuesday that the Ministry of National Security cannot justify its action of debarring him from entering Trinidad and Tobago and deporting him to Jamaica when he arrived last Friday for a performance in Chaguaramas the following night. Ding Dong was scheduled to perform at the Minshall Mas Camp, Chaguaramas at an event titled, Party Cop: The Invasion presented by KR Promotions and Junglest International. When he arrived at Piarco he was informed by immigration authorities that he was on a list of Jamaican artistes barred from entering the island because they were deemed a threat to Trinidad society. He was also told he was seen as a threat because of the nature of the lyrics of his songs and the ban was ordered by the Minister of National Security. ’Right now people on my Twitter and Facebook lash out against the Trinidad Government. Let him (National Security Minister) tell me what I sing so bad. I don’t degrade women, promote violence, sing about race or drugs. I am not saying anything more on the issue until the Minister explains to the media what it was that I have done because this is embarrassing'. (more on the link below)
(Trinidad Express)

NOTE: Although there is no evidence that this decision is regarding homophobic lyrics, someone on a discussion board has pointed out one of Ding Dong song named 'No Man Room' which criticized homosexuality. At first reading, the song doesn't seem to be a vehicule to violence but does start with the line 'Tell chi chi man fi rest', which could be interpreted as 'Tell chi chi man fi dead'. Jamaican artists are now careful of not losing their international market, therefore use subtile mataphore in their lyrics.

June 18, 2010: J-FLAG Remembers Fallen Brother and Calls for an End to Hate Crimes
TEXT FROM PRESS RELEASE: June is International Gay Pride month and today marks the sixth (6th) anniversary of the mob slaying in Montego Bay of 26 year old Victor Jarrett on the mere suspicion of being gay. Victor was on Dump-up beach with some friends when two police officers approached, accused him of being gay and watching men on the beach. They started hurling insults at him and ordering him to leave the public beach. A mob soon formed and Victor was chased from the beach into his community in Canterbury St. James where he was bludgeoned to death. To commemorate this tragic event, J-FLAG organized a memorial on Dump-up beach under the theme ‘Never Again’ to draw attention to hate crimes which continue to be perpetuated against Jamaican gays and lesbians. While police instigated attacks against Jamaica’s gay community have declined in recent times, there is insufficient prosecution of crimes committed by private citizens.Jason McFarlane, Programme Manager at J-FLAG stated "We are here to honour Victor’s memory, calling to the mind the many brothers and sisters who have suffered at the hands of Jamaica’s intolerance towards gays. It is sad that in 2010 gays and lesbians are still being attacked and beaten because of their sexual orientation". Maurice Tomlinson of AIDS Free World stated “We are proud to stand with this group to call for an end to the intolerance and abuse of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community which is driving them underground and severely undermining the national fight against HIV.” (more on the link below)
(J-FLAG Press Release) (pictures of the commemoration)

June 22, 2010: Two Beenie Man concert cancelled in European Festivals
Beenie Man was supposed to performed at Couleur Café Festival, Bruxelles, Belgium (on Saturday June 26) and at the free outdoor concert at Parkpop Festival, The Hague, The Netherlands (on Sunday June 27). Both concerts were cancelled due to LGBT associations pressure. TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Organisers of the Belgian Couleur Cafe Festival, held annually in Brussels, have cancelled their invitation to openly homophobic Jamaican Dancehall singer Beenie Man. According to a Flemish gay rights group, their efforts to have the controversial singer removed from the bill were supported by Amnesty International. Initially, gay website LaLucarne and the Brussels region secretary for equal opportunities, Bruno Delille, protested to the Belgian senate to no avial. But following a letter from Amnesty and a Facebook protest group which swiftly attracted 1,600 members, the campaign gathered speed. In a meeting last night, the festival sponsors made the decision to cancel Beenie Man's appearance. According to Flemish gay rights group WISH, following the decision a press release was issued by the festival organisers "blaming gay rights groups and casting themselves in the role of the victim."... This latest cancellation comes hours after the Dutch Parkpop music festival removed Beenie Man from their line up. (more on the link below)
(PinkNews 1) (PinkNews 2) (PRESS RELEASE from Couleur Cafe Festival) (FocusVif.be) (DeutchNews)

June 23, 2010: Tolerance TV spot broadcasted in Jamaica
Below is a YouTube link to a copy of the original Tolerance Public Service Announcement produced for TV. This aired three times during the Prime Time news hour on both national TV stations from Wednesday June 23rd to Friday June 25th and was targeted at those persons who were tuning in to get updates on the capture of Dudus as well as the latest World Cup action. NOTE: This version has an error in the names of the penultimate speakers and was corrected in the aired PSA.
(YouTube: TV Spot for tolerance)

June 24, 2010: Confessions of a gay man in St. Lucia newspaper
This section of the website is reseved for news. Sometimes I make a few exceptions. I can't help but posting this wonderful article. I think this is, by far, the most interesting description of what is commonly known as 'The Closet' in gay life. Take a few moment to read these articles, specially the first one. So far, there is five articles published by the same author, but there seems more to come.
(ARTICLE 1: Confession of a gay man in St. Lucia) (ARTICLE 2: Could your husband or 'baby father' be a homosexual?)
(ARTICLE 3: Why gay men live a lie!) (ARTICLE 4: When your life is on the line) (ARTICLE 5: Coming out of the closet: Let's talk about sex!)
Here are other soulful, very well written texts, this time published in Barbados newspaper:
(Guest Column: Homosexuality should be accepted) (I Confess: Full of pride for gay son) (Gay unions 'will come' to region)

June 28, 2010: Inter-Religious Organisation condemns Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Guyana
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Bishop Juan Edghill, yesterday, in his capacity as Public Relations Officer of the Inter Religious Organisation, spoke out against the ongoing Gay and Lesbian film festival being staged by the Society Against Sexual Orientation and Discrimination (S.A.S.O.D.). The film festival has been running for the better part of this month. It will see its last three nights of screening this week. However, the IRO still thought the matter worthy of its attention and as such staged a press briefing yesterday afternoon immediately after a meeting on the subject of the festival.Bishop Edghill noted that one issue lies in the location of the Film Festival. The SASOD Flyer points out that the films will be shown at the Sidewalk Café which is an open venue that also happens to be across the road from a school. The flyer also sports the disclaimer “All films are intended for mature audiences.” According to Bishop Edghill, if this film festival is meant for adults then it needs to be asked, “What arrangements are in place to prevent young impressionable minds from being influenced by this public promotion of the homosexual agenda in Guyana?”(more on the link below)
(Kaieteur News) (Stabroek News) (SASOD answer) (Stabroek News EDITORIAL) (Stabroek News LETTER)
(SASOD film festival)

July 2, 2010: Tjenbé Rèd request that Capleton's European tour be cancelled
Between July 5 au July 31st, Capleton will be performing in France, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and UK. Tjenbé Rèd reminds that Capleton, who signed the Reggae Compassionate Act on May 10 2007, officially broke his commitment as soon as December 25th 2007. Therefore they request LGBT groups to protest his concerts and call the owner of the venues. Among the actions suggested, they request LGBT groups rto engage in dialogue with people attending the concerts. Tjenbé Rèd is not the only LGBT group to oppose the venue of Capleton.
(Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 1) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 2) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 3) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 2) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 3) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 4) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 5) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 6) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 7)
(pictures from protest in Paris) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 8) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 8)

Tjenbé Rèd about Sizzla upcoming performance on August 21st in Languedoc-Roussillon, France
(Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH)

July 4, 2010: J-FLAG protest at Caricom: End anti-buggery laws
The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is calling on Caricom member states to immediately repeal anti-buggery laws and to integrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexuals and Transgender citizens into “the Caricom family”. J-FLAG protested across from the entrance to the Hilton Rose Hall Resort in Montego Bay, the site of the 31st Caricom Heads of Government meeting yesterday. In a release to the media Jason McFarlane, Programme Manager of J-FLAG said that “the decision was made to mount this ‘Stand’ because of the continued presence of anti-buggery laws in 11 of the 14 member states in Caricom which contribute to discrimination, marginalization and other serious human rights violations of Caricom citizens.”
(more on the link below)
(Go-Jamaica.com) (J-FLAG Press Release) (picture of the event)

July 14, 2010: Jamaica blog respond to Sugar Minott on 'Stop taking 'Boom Bye Bye' so serious!'
On Saturday July 10, reggae legend Sugar Minott passed away at the age of 54. The cause of death is said to have been him suffering from Angina pectoris – a severe heart condition. On July 13, Clash Music present the full transcript of an interview they made with him in February 2010. One of the question being where did he stood with the homophobia in dancehall? 'We grew up like that – religion, Rastafari, Christianity – we always against things like that. It's not because people are coming up with it now – we always been like that. Jamaica's like that. Myself – I don't condone violence – people trying to kill people because of their lifestyle – or whatever. We have to live together Anyway. I would say – leave them to Jah. I even recorded a song - just for the fun of it - then we decided 'no man we can't put this out'. It was against... you know what... when all this nonsense came out I didn't bother to release it"...Stop taking it so serious! Jamaicans say 'Boom Bye Bye' just for fun, they're not actually gonna boom bye bye nobody. I'm saying leave it alone. I've never committed violence against anyone who wants to live the way they want to live". JLBTQ Jamaica Blog Watch wrote the following letter following the publication of the interview: 'Unfortunately this is the dismissive tone taken towards the issue of homosexuality and with regards with hate lyrics or murder music, bearing in mind that older acts such as Sugar Minott never recorded such caustic lyrics but clearly from his pronouncements the thoughts were there... Murder music came to full maturity in the late eighties on the strength of several cases of alleged paedophilia and the related sensationlism of those stories by tabloid newspapers where the link was and is still made to homosexuality... In fact Buju Banton’s song “Boom Bye Bye” was supposed to be a response to one of those awful cases where a man allegedly sexually abused a boy who was found dead. The country by right was outraged but the marrying of paedophilia and adult male homosexuality without any serious rebuttal has left the gay community suffering unwanted consequences over the decades. To dismiss this song’s meaning and or prescription for gays as a joke is a clear show of the cynicism that pervades a wide cross-section of Jamaican society. There is a popular saying “What is a joke to you is death to me” maybe in this case we can take it literally... (more from the letter on the link below)
(GLBTQ Jamaica Blog Watch) (CLASH MUSIC: Sugar Minott interview)

July 16, 2010: Capleton concert cancelled in Villeurbanne, France
TEXT FROM PRESS RELEASE: Tjenbé Rèd is pleased that CCO Villeurbanne (a French concert hall near Lyons) remains steadfast in respecting human rights. We thank it for its support in the struggle against all forms of homophobia and against AIDS. In fact, the Jamaican singer Capleton was due to appear at the CCO this Wednesday 21 July. Tjenbé Rèd therefore, as part of the international campaign Stop Murder Music (SMM), informed the CCO that this performer was well known for his provocative lyrics, contained in 29 of his songs, such as "Kill queers, slaughter them like pigs!" (from 'Bun Out Di Chi'
Chi), "I’ll shoot those homos and faggots" (from 'Woah!') and "Chain up the queers and hang them till death comes!" (from 'Hang Dem Up'). Capleton wanted to appear without having committed himself never again to call for the murder of LGBT persons (lesbians, gays, bi- and trans-sexuals) whether in Jamaica, France or elsewhere in the world, which he could have done by committing himself publicly and explicitly to sign and respect the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA), a moral charter issued in 2007, following negotiations between SMM campaign activists and the managers of singers addressed by this campain. (more on the link below) (for more actions taken by Tjenbé Rèd, see July 2nd, 2010)
(Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH)

July 20, 2010: Research results confirsm: Homophobia leads to increase HIV risk
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Uganda made international headlines late last year after lawmakers in the East African country proposed legislation to impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans — as well as lengthy prison terms for their friends, families, and even landlords. The news, decried by human rights advocates, came amid an ongoing rash of brutal antigay attacks in African nations. Now, the violence is prompting a new wave of warnings from public-health experts. In countries already ravaged by AIDS, the brutality and stigma may be fueling a dangerous surge of HIV infections among gay and bisexual men, according to a study released by Johns Hopkins University and the World Bank at a preconference event for the biennial International AIDS Conference, being held this week in Vienna... The study adds new evidence to what AIDS researchers have long suspected — that homophobia leads to increased HIV risk. “Due to stigma, a significant number of these countries simply fail to track HIV among their MSM,” George Ayala, the Global Forum's executive officer, told The Advocate. “Equally troubling is that such stigma can completely derail lifesaving programming that MSM desperately need: HIV-related services, prevention work, outreach, and even epidemiological studies that would help us understand the full scope of this crisis.”. (more on the link below)
(The Advocate)

August 18, 2010: Sizzla's concerts cancelled in South of France and Belgium
In a press release dated August 5th, four human rights organizations in France and UK suggested to human rights organizations in South of France that they should, in particular, open up a dialogue with Sizzla’s fans. This dialogue will not now take place as we learned from the local newspaper Midi Libre that the organizers of the concert scheduled for the 21st have decided to cancel it. We were sorry to note on this occasion that Midi Libre had asserted that "Sizzla has never been found in default" after having signed the RCA. In fact, he increased his public homophobic utterances between June and December 2007. ThLGBT associations also insist that owner of arenas and clubs should insert a clause in their contract to not have any financial penalities if they decided to cancel a concert once they learn that a singer is promoting violence to minorities. The concert that was scheduled at Palavàs-les-Flots (South of France). In a third press release, Tjenbé Rèd is responding to the false accusation published in an article that the Gay Lobby is still putting pressure on artists that singed the RCA. (more on the link below)

NOTE: Another concert was cancelled in Belgium. Sizzla was scheduled to performed in Messancy on August 25th. Information taken on Reggaeville.com
(Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 1) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 1) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 2) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 2) (MidiLibre.com) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release ENGLISH 3) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 3) (Tjenbé Rèd Press Release FRENCH 4)

August 27, 2010: Caricom LGBT activists to take discrimination complaints to IACHR
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Representatives from 15 Caricom states are currently participating in a workshop to advance the process towards filing complaints about discrimination against persons based on sexual orientation to the Inter-American Commis-sion on Human Rights (IACHR). The workshop, which is organized by the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) in collaboration with Global Rights and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s Latin America and Caribbean Office and Open Society Institute, began yesterday at the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute. The workshop is examining specifically violence and discrimination against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons. (more on the link below)
(Stabroek News) (BBC News) (DemeraraWaves)

September 1, 2010: Castro takes responsibility for Cuba persecuting gays
TEXT FROM ARTICLE: Fidel Castro has said that he was responsible for Cuba persecuting gay men in the 1960s and 70s. The former president told Mexican newspaper La Jornada that there had been moments of "great injustice" against the gay community. "If someone is responsible, it's me," he said. He added that he did not have any personal prejudice against gays and lesbians but was trying to work out how responsible he was for the persecution. Castro was leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2009 and believed that sexual diversity was a corrupt consequence of capitalism..During his rule, many gay men suffered in Cuban labour camps as the regime 're-educated' homosexuals to rid them of their "counter-revolutionary tendencies". Castro added that he had not paid enough attention to the issue of homophobia, saying: "At the time we were being sabotaged systematically, there were armed attacks against us, we had too many problems." Homosexual sex was partially decriminalised in Cuba in 1979 and an equal age of consent was introduced in 1992. (more on the link below)
(Pink News)

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NEW INFORMATION
If you visit this page often, I just added the following information:Jamaica bans school books that mention gays favorably (December 4, 2007). Greensleeves Records is still releasing 'Murder Music' (September 3, 2007). RainbowVibes.com: Caribbean first gay and lesbian social network (June 14 2008). 35 songs were Sizzla advocates murder (August 15 2008). Song that criticized Jamaican homophobia: Rainbow Coloured Rizzla (October 1, 2007), Stop Murder Music Bern: An organization launched by heterosexuals (March 24, 2008). The Rasta view on homosexuality? (April 22, 2007), Documentary on gay Hip-Hop (September 19, 2005), VP Records purchase Greensleeves Records (January 28, 2008), VP Records launches PlanetReggae.com (February 1, 2008), Important essay on Jamaican homophobia and it's repercussion in dancehall music (February 18, 2004), interview with Boris Dittrich on boycott campaigns (April 13, 2009). Trailer for Taboo Yardies (June 10, 2009), Reggae Compassionate Act needs revision (June 30, 2007), T.O.K. signed the Reggae Compassionate Act (August 13, 2009), Carolyn Cooper To The Rescue (October 12, 2009), German reggae writer and editors criticizing the Stop Murder Music campaign (August 1, 2009), Riddim Magazine: Jamaica's Most Wanted (April 2009), Interesting text on denouncing violence in dancehall (September 20, 2009), Jamaica new Charter of Rights (October 25, 2009), Elephant Man Singns the RCA (November 22, 2007), violent homophobic video by Elephant Man (March 26, 2008), Gays in Jamaica worship in underground church (November 11, 2009), Beenie Man concert cancelled in Toronto (December 9, 2009), radio segments of Mutabaruka Cutting Edge show with Buju Banton (October 14, 2009), One Hate, One Fear article (January 6, 2010) Jamaican Music In Europe: The Homophobia Debate (February 20, 2010), Tatchell slams police and Head Office over UK performance of Bounty Killer (November 17, 2008). Scans of the 8-page article on Homophobia in Dancehall published in Reggae Magazine (April 2005), Trinidad: lyrics that deal with homosexuality in calypso music (July 30, 2009), Tiken Jah Fakoly's share his music for gay documentary (May 31, 2009)

••• Note that I also created the CONCERTS CANCELLED button in the main menu •••
••• Note that I also created the YOUTUBE VIDEO SCRAPBOOK page, available in the GET INFORMED section •••

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