“This Council believes that musicians whose lyrics contain incitements to violence and murder are unacceptable if all people are to be valued and respected, regardless of their sexuality, background, race, gender, age or disability. This Council notes that serious concerns have been raised over such “murder music” singers, which include Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, TOK, Capleton, Beenie Man, Sizzla Kalonji, Buju Banton and Vybz Kartel, who are seen as glorifying the killing of lesbian and gay people which makes life intolerable for many lesbian and gay
Jamaicans where homosexuality is outlawed. In acknowledgement of the concerns raised by many people in Brighton and Hove’s large LGBT community, this Council resolves by this Notice of Motion to: 1. Urge all music outlets in the City not to stock such music. 2. Ensure that such material is not available in the City’s Libraries. Request that all Public Entertainment Licence holders in the City take into consideration the views of the Council noting our concern over such music and potential hosting of such entertainment at their venues.” Full text motion on ‘Hate Music Directed Against Social Groups’: passed by Full Council meeting 25 November 2004 proposed by Councillor Randall and seconded by Councillor Williams: “This Council notes the very small minority of mainly rap and reggae music containing lyrics that incite hatred against and the murder of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and that also incite hatred against women and some ethnic groups and others. The Council believes that 'murder music' contributes to a climate where prejudice is seen as acceptable and exposes those groups who are targeted to an increased risk of violence. Furthermore, the Council believes that 'incitement to murder' lyrics go way beyond acceptable freedom of expression and actively promote a message of hatred. The Council believes that this feeds community division and runs contrary to its core value of promoting community cohesion.
The Council also notes its duty, working with other agencies, including the Police, to help to make the city safer for everyone. The Council notes that Brighton and Hove has one of the largest LGBT communities in the country and there is an on-going need in the city to address homophobic and other hate crime. The Council also notes that the LGBT community enjoys no protection under incitement to hatred legislation in the way that ethnic minorities do (under the Race Relations Act 1976) and as do many social groups, including the LGBT community, in Northern Ireland, under recently introduced legislation. The Council notes that the music industry, including the three large record chains with outlets in Brighton and Hove: Virgin Megastore, HMV and MVC, have so far refused to stop the production, promotion and sale of albums that contain murder lyrics. Finally, the Council welcomes the Government's decision to refuse entry to Sizzla (real name: Miguel Orlando Collins) a Jamaican reggae artist who has incited the murder of LGBT people and ethnic groups in his music and concerts.
Accordingly, Brighton & Hove City Council mandates the Chief Executive to write to:
• the city's three MPs to request that they lobby the Government to extend incitement to hatred legislation to cover the LGBT community and other groups targeted by 'murder music'.
• the UK managing directors of Virgin Megastore, MVC and HMV, making plain the Council's view that to refuse to take music off-sale containing 'incitement to murder' lyrics ultimately contributes to a climate where homophobia and other forms of prejudice are seen as acceptable.”
This information was researched and compiled by Spectrum LGBT Community Forum
For further information about Spectrum go to www.spectrum-lgbt.org
telephone: 01273 723123
email: info@spectrum-lgbt.org