Extract from the article Murder In The Dancehall (Gay Times, December 2002) We've been here before, of course -- exactly ten years ago. The record causing the controversy then was Buju Banton's Boom Bye Bye -- which recommended that gay men should be shot dead. British black gay activist Ted Brown, remembers how he first first heard the record at parties in London. He couldn't believe his ears. And he couldnt believe that Buju Banton was getting away with it. So he decided to do something about it. "We approached the record company and Buju Banton's management," Brown recalls today. "They didn't respond, but we learned that Banton was due to appear at the WOMAD festival and alerted them. They didn't know what the lyrics meant. They independently concluded that the lyrics were contrary to the spirit of international solidarity that the festival was founded on and asked Buju Banton not to play the song. As they got no response, he was dropped." The press picked up the story -- which resulted in a now legendary piece on Channel Fours youth series The Word. "I appeared, saying this is not on -- but using slightly stronger language," Brown laughs. "So did Banton -- he said 'homosexuality runs contrary to my religious beliefs' but he actually apologised, saying he did not mean to incite violence against any communities. But then there was a film of him in Jamaica, performing the song with a gang of guys carrying sticks. After the film there was an interview with Shabba Ranks in the studio, and he supported Boom Bye Bye. Ranks said, 'If you break the law of God you deserve crucifixion.' There was uproar in the audience. Mark Lamarr jumped on Ranks and told him 'thats absolute crap and you know it!' -- much to his favour." Soon after his appearance on The Word, Ted Brown was badly beaten up by a gang that barged into his home. This didnt stop him. Buju Banton was working hard to break through in the States -- his record company thought he could be the new Bob Marley. So Browns group, Black Lesbians and Gay Men Against Media Homophobia, hooked up with the American pressure group GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Media Defamation) and managed to get all Banton's TV appearances cancelled and his records taken off radio stations. Banton's plan for world domination was thwarted. Beenie Man is touring the States soon. American gay activists are planning a similar welcome. Note: to read the whole article: Murder In The Dancehall