By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - As pressure mounts against Jamaican reggae singers who promote homophobic violence against gays and lesbians, one more artist has been barred from performing in Canada.
Jamaican reggae singer Sizzla Kalonji, who supposedly said no to gay rights, had his upcoming show at the Paramount Concert Theatre in Toronto, Canada cancelled by the authorities at the Canadian Embassy in Jamaica.

According to a blog-styled Website, OutAroad.com, Sizzla and his management team's visa applications were denied because the entertainer refused to sign documents agreeing not to perform or use lyrics that are anti-gay or promotes violence against gays and lesbians. Other artists, such as Beenie Man and Canadian "2G" Sanusi were slated to perform in a dancehall/reggae show titled, "Knock Out Knight" at the Toronto club, Fusion Nightclub.

But conflicting reports from the Website stated that the cancellation of Sizzla's performance left many fans angry with the promoters for giving in to the accusations from the gay community. The Website however claimed that Sizzla had apologized to his fans and that while he was approved to perform in Canada, the visa denials were due to some inefficiency and lateness in submitting paperwork to the Embassy. The site goes on to state that Sizzla is all about being positive, unity and has called for an end to the violence. But, while many of the comments on the page were written in Jamaican patois, several spewed hatred and virulence, and at least one agreed that Sizzla should be banned.

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By Antoine Craigwell, Sr. Correspondent

What is the allure for a straight Black Jamaican woman to make a documentary of the struggles gay men and women in Jamaica? Aside from a purely altruistic perspective to do good, this is a documentary that opens the door to greater discussion of acceptance in a predominantly homophobic environment that has consistently resisted addressing the issue of homosexuality.

 

Taboo Yardies, as a documentary taking its name from the un-discussed and forbidden, and common reference to people from Jamaica, captures interviews from several Jamaicans representing different segments of the island’s society	Salena Blake
The documentary includes comments made by the Prime Minister Bruce Golding in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), with religious leaders, including Bishop Zachary Jones, M.Div., founder, Brooklyn, NY-based Unity Fellowship Church in Christ; Thomas Glave, assistant professor of English and Africana Studies, State University of New York, Binghamton; and award winning poet and spoken word artist Stacyann Chin. It focuses attention on the persecution of homosexuals in Jamaica in contravention of sections of the country’s Constitution, which provides rights to all its citizens. Some other people involved with the project are former NYC Councilor Una Clarke, Ken Reeves, mayor of Cambridge, MA, Kenny Chang, one of the first gay Jamaican artists, and many women from Flatbush, Brooklyn. Produced by MayNov Productions, a film, documentary and media company led by Selena Blake; the Taboo Yardies trailer begins with, "...the voices of those who don speak up and out...," contrasts sharply with one scene where four men are playing dominors in the yard and one says, "...anytime you're a faggot, yuh gon get beaten..."

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Minister of Immigration Repeatedly Ignores Request to Deport
Anti- gay Artist

Toronto: Notorious anti-gay “murder music” artist Buju Banton is back on Canadian soil despite numerous requests by LGBT human rights organizations to The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to deny his entry.

Buju Banton

Minister Diane Finely is more concerned about getting re- elected than she is about addressing the legitimate concerns of LGBT communities. Egale Canada and Stop Murder Music (Canada) believe Minister Finley should deport Buju Banton immediately.

“The Minister has abdicated her duties by allowing Buju Banton into the country and as a result has provided him with a platform to incite ‘murder’ said Akim Larcher, spokesperson for Stop Murder Music (Canada). “Buju Banton has continued to perform ‘murder music’ whilst on tour in the Caribbean and has recently said that gays and lesbians are part of social decay.”

To date, our Federal Government has ignored requests to revoke Buju Banton’s visa and has been silent on the issue of “murder music” for over a year now.

Stop Murder Music (Canada) campaign is coalition of over 20 organizations that promote human rights in both Canada and abroad.

By Michelle Bromley-McChie

This interview of Constable Michael Hayden sheds light on the plight of a gay officer in the world most homophobic country... Jamaica. Hayden risked his career and life when he come out while on the force. Listen to his stunning statements about the abuse he faced from his fellow officers and supervisors. 

 

 

BERLIN  - The homophobic lyrics of several Jamaican reggae musicians has moved the German government to consider blacklisting them and restrict their sales and distribution.

The CDs by Elephant Man and T.O.K. could be put on the "Index of Harmful Materials," which, while it would not censor the materials in Germany, would severely limit their advertising and marketing.

The Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons will decide over the next several months if the music will be included on the index, the government said on Thursday in its response to a parliamentary inquiry.

The index includes items such as media which glorify war and violence and are intended to induce hate.

Volker Beck, the leader of the Green Party parliamentary group, called on large Internet music sellers to already begin removing the CDs in question from their sales inventory.

"Those in Jamaica who invoke hatred should not earn money with their music in Germany," he said on Thursday in Berlin.

Homosexual acts are punishable by law in Jamaica and many musicians from the Caribbean island are accused of promoting violence against gays and lesbians. In its travel advisory on Jamaica, the German foreign ministry reports that homosexuals are often the targets of assault.

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Recently, Egale Canada and  Stop Murder Music (Canada) oposed a concert in Toronto by violently homophobic dancehall artists such as “Capelton” (Clifton G. Bailey). Capelton signed an agreement stating that he would cease using homophobic language in his music. However, you can see by his lyrics that he has not kept his words

Give Har Shoulda know seh Capleton bun battyman You should know that Capleton burns queers Dem same fire apply to di lesbian The same fire applies to lesbians Seh mi bun everything from mi know seh dem gay Say, I burn everything as long as I know that they're gay All boogaman and sodemites fi get killed All queers and sodomites should be killed

Hang Dem Up Yow....String dem up and hang dem up alive Yow, string them up and hang them up alive Bare batty man come round yah ... All queers who come around here Dis mamma earth sey none cyann survive This mama earth says none can survive.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyanese authorities have banned a Jamaican reggae artist known for anti-gay lyrics from performing in the South American country.

Interior Minister Clement Rohee says Bounty Killer is no longer welcome because gunfire erupted at an April 19 concert.

Rohee announced the ban Monday. He says Bounty Killer's lyrics promote violence and celebrate criminal behaviour. He also banned the Jamaican singer Movado.

Bounty Killer concerts earlier were scrapped in Britain and Germany because of protests over lyrics that include references to killing homosexuals.

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TORONTO: In response to calls from Egale Canada and Stop Murder Music (Canada), Archambault Inc, one of Eastern Canada’s biggest record dealers, has removed controversial murder music from its Canadian markets. Anti-gay tracks by popular dancehall artists Buju Banton, Elephant Man and T.O.K are no longer available from its retail and on line stores.

The decision comes as a result of calls from Egale Canada and SMM requesting the removal of lyrical content which openly calls for the violence and murder of gays and lesbians. “Archambault Inc. is now the second prominent retailer in Canada to pull this murder music,” said Helen Kennedy, Executivye Director of Egale Canada, “earlier this month Apple’s iTunes removed the controversial songs from its North American markets.”

“This is another historic victory for the LGBT community here in Canada and in the Caribbean,” says Akim Larcher founder of SMM (Canada), “Archambault Inc., and iTunes are leading the way and exercising corporate responsibility by pulling this murder music.”

In a letter to Egale Canada, Archambault Inc., Senior Vice President of Retail stated that starting on May 5th, the albums will no longer be available in their stores or from the Website.

Egale Canada advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people and their families across Canada.

Stop Murder Music (Canada) advocates against anti-gay lyrics targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified communities.

Gay Canada draws a line in Jamaican sand.

Outraged by the contiuning in-action by Jamaica to seriously address its human rights violations towards its LGBT citizens; gay Canadian organizations have issued an ultimatum to the Jamaican government:  Act now or we will take action against you!

In March, a letter was deliverd to the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto demanding that Jamaica take specific steps to redress its serious violations of human rights. The letter also demands a response by May 12th. 

Egale Canada, and the Metropolitan Chuch of Canada are calling on the international gay community to boycott Jamaica if that government fails to respond positively to their letter by the deadline date. (see letter in Full Story)

In a conversation between Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada and GBMNews; Helen stated that support for strenuous protest action against Jamaica has been forthcoming from both gay people within Jamaica as well as without... "We have to do for gay Jamaicans what they can not do for themselves". "Jamaican gays are risking their very lives every time they speak out or even walk the streets, surely we should do what ever we can to support them." "Now is the time to act".

Helen appeals to gay organizations in America and Great Britain to follow Canada's lead. GBMNews has called for a boycott and has allied with the Canadian gay organizations in this effort.

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TORONTO: In response to calls from Egale Canada and Stop Murder Music

(Canada), iTunes has removed controversial murder music from its North American markets. 

 

Anti-gay tracks by popular dancehall artists Buju Banton, Elephant Man and T.O.K are no longer available on the iTunes site. “This is an historic victory for the LGBT community here in Canada and in the Caribbean,” says Akim Larcher founder of SMM (Canada), “iTunes is exercising its corporate responsibility by pulling this murder music and raising the bar for other retailers and distributors to do the same.” The decision comes as a result of calls from Egale Canada and SMM requesting the removal of lyrical content which openly calls for the violence and murder of gays and lesbians. “We are extremely pleased with this decision,” said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada, “we have also contacted HMV, Archambault Inc, and Amazon.ca and we are optimistic that they will follow iTunes lead.” iTunes has removed entire albums including compilation albums which contain the artists in question. Apple’s iTunes is the leading on line distributor of music in North America. Egale Canada advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people and their families across Canada. Stop Murder Music (Canada) advocates against anti-gay lyrics targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified communities.

By Peter Tatchell

Homophobic singer Bounty Killer is facing ruin after cities across Europe refused to host his concerts. London should have done the same

Anti-gay Jamaican "murder music" singer, Bounty Killer, is facing financial meltdown as his European tour is besieged by protests and concert cancellations.

Despite the shameful collusion of the Metropolitan police with this notorious singer, Bounty Killer's UK tour dates outside London - in Bradford and Birmingham - were axed, losing him thousands of pounds in performance fees. In Germany, Bounty Killer's concerts in Dortmund, Essen and Berlin were also cancelled, together with his gig in Antwerp, Belgium.

In contrast to the appeasement of the Home Office and the Met, the German government has announced that Bounty Killer and other singers who advocate violence and murder will, in future, be refused visas.

These successes have been won by an alliance of European gay rights and human rights groups, which have coordinated a continent-wide campaign to halt Bounty Killer's Deadly Alliance tour.

They are objecting to his explicit incitements to murder gays and lesbians. Incitement to murder is a criminal offence.

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Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has brushed off calls by homosexual groups for a tourism boycott of Jamaica and Jamaican products.

Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett

In recent weeks, these calls have come from several organisations in Canada, the United States and Europe.

The gay rights groups claim that Jamaica is a homophobic society where gays and lesbians are at risk of being violently abused by their fellow citizens.

They claim the Jamaican government has not done enough to stop violence against homosexuals.

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) has sought to bring the issues to the attention to the government in a letter sent to Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Mr. Bartlett and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Ken Baugh.

J-FLAG said to date it has received no response from Mr. Golding.

It said this has led it to conclude that Mr. Golding does not see the urgency of the situation or does not deem its letter worthy of an acknowledgement of receipt.

Mr. Bartlett told the RJR News Centre that the letter sent by the group is now before the Prime Minister who will deal with the issue in due course.

He however dismissed the calls by the gay rights groups that the Jamaican tourism product should be boycotted.

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By Brent Creelman and Krishna Rau

iTunes Canada has removed several songs with anti-gay lyrics from its online store, in response to a campaign led by Egale and Stop Murder Music.

The songs — by Jamaican dancehall artists Buju Banton, Elephant Man and TOK — contain lyrics that advocate the killing of gays.

"iTunes is exercising its corporate responsibility by pulling this murder music and raising the bar for other retailers and distributors to do the same," says Akim Larcher, founder of SMM. He calls iTune's decision a victory for the gay community in Canada and in the Caribbean.

Egale and SMM wrote to iTunes in January, asking for homophobic tracks to be removed from the online store. They noted three songs that promoted violence against gays, and those tracks have now been removed.

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By Tony Grew

J-Flag, the Jamaican lesbian and gay rights group, has rejected calls for a tourist boycott in protest at homophobia on the island.

J-FLAG

Canadian newspapers have been focusing on the prejudice and violence gay people face in Jamaica since a leading activist sought asylum there, and some have called for Canadians to refuse to holiday in the popular destination.

In a statement released yesterday, J-Flag, Jamaica's Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, said it shared the frustration at the "slow progress towards transforming the social climate that makes it difficult for gays and lesbians in Jamaica to lead lives free from homophobic violence.

"Yet, 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.

"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.

"The concern and support of the international community has been critical in focusing attention to our situation.

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By Ashante Infantry

Canadians should consider a tourism boycott to pressure Caribbean governments to protect the human rights of their gay citizenry, said participants in a University of Toronto forum Friday evening.

Buju Banton

Elephant Man

About 200 people attended the two-hour discussion, The Sound of Hate: Where Sexual Orientation, Race, Dancehall Music and Human Rights Collide.

The debate focused on a popular segment of reggae that gay rights activists have dubbed "murder music," because it contains threatening sentiments toward homosexuals and pejorative patois terms for them.

They also allege that the songs have motivated brutal attacks on Jamaican gays by mobs who often recite the hateful lyrics of songs such as "Boom Bye Bye" (Buju Banton) and "Log On" (Elephant Man).

"The sound of hate is also the rhythm of pain, because people are being kicked and chopped by people singing these songs; there is no way for me as a Jamaican to appreciate reggae right now," said panelist Gareth Henry.

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The Deputy Commissioner of Police in Jamaica has said his officers need training to improve the way they deal with gay people.

The Commonwealth country is notorious as one of the most homophobic places on earth.

In the course of the last month a leading LGBT activist has fled the island claiming he was brutalised by police and an officer has gone into hiding after being abused by colleagues about his sexuality.

Deputy commissioner Mark Shields told The Gleaner "I think there is a place for minorities, whoever they are, to have the opportunity to speak to recruits during their initial (police) training.

"Diversity is something that needs to be embraced. Therefore, the only way to do that is to train police officers so that they are no longer just citizens with a view and with prejudices."

Sex between men in Jamaica is illegal, and punishable with up to ten years in jail, usually with hard labour.

In December 2003, a World Policy Institute survey on sexual orientation and human rights in the Americas said:

"In the Caribbean, Jamaica is by far the most dangerous place for sexual minorities, with frequent and often fatal attacks against gay men fostered by a popular culture that idolises reggae and dancehall singers whose lyrics call for burning and killing gay men."

Hatred for gay people is often publicly expressed by political and religious leaders in Jamaica.

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'My life is in great, great jeopardy' in a country where violence against homosexuals is pervasive

By Dana Flavelle

A Jamaican police officer says he's living in fear after coming out as a gay man and hopes to come to Canada where he can safely speak up on behalf of other gay Jamaicans.

Michael Hayden, who has been on the police force for four years, said other officers routinely attacked and abused him after becoming suspicious of his sexual orientation.

But after speaking out publicly about the problem in The Jamaica Star newspaper this month, the 24-year-old Hayden said he began receiving death threats.

"I want to stay here and fight," Hayden said in a telephone interview from Jamaica yesterday. "But it's not safe for me. My life is in great, great jeopardy."

Human rights groups say Hayden's case is the latest in a series of disturbing anti-gay incidents in the Caribbean tourist destination.

The Jamaican police force declined to comment on Hayden's situation. Sodomy is a criminal offence in Jamaica, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

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By Marc Lacey

MANDEVILLE, Jamaica — One night last month, Andre and some friends were finishing dinner when a mob showed up at the front gate. Yelling antigay slurs and waving machetes, sticks and knives, 15 to 20 men kicked in the front door of the home he and his friends had rented and set upon them.

“I thought I was dead,” Andre, 20, a student, recounted in a faint voice, still scared enough that he was in hiding and did not want his full name to be used.

The mob pummeled him senseless. His right hand, the one he used to shield himself from the blows, is now covered with bandages. His skull has deep cut marks and his ear was sliced in half, horizontally. Doctors managed to sew it back together and he can hear out of it again.

Being gay in Jamaica is not easy. For years, human rights groups have denounced the harassment, beating and even killing of gays here, to little avail. No official statistic has been compiled on the number of attacks. But a recent string of especially violent, high-profile assaults has brought fresh condemnation to an island otherwise known as an easygoing tourist haven.

“One time may be an isolated incident,” said Rebecca Schleifer, a researcher for Human Rights Watch who has studied the issue and regularly gets calls from the island from gays under attack. “When they happen on a repeated basis across the country, it is an urgent problem that deserves attention at the highest levels.”

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JAMAICAN CHURCH leaders stand resolute that despite strong lobbying by international gay rights activists, homo-sexuality will not be accepted as normal.

Jamaica-Gleaner.com - The Church's rebuke comes in the wake of a recent scathing report from the New York-based Human Rights Watch and protests last week by a Florida church sympathetic to gays.

The Rev Dr Merrick 'Al' Miller, pastor of the Fellowship Taber-nacle in St Andrew, said that Jamaicans generally deem homo-sexuality wrong.

Members of OutburstUK  and Outrage! Protesting Anti-Gay Jamaican Policies

Immoral in every way

He said the demands of gay activists who are attempting to force their beliefs on society will in no way influence Jamaicans to change their views.

"Homosexuality is wrong from every possible angle," said Miller. "It's immoral from a physical, social and spiritual standpoint." He said that despite this, the Church was willing to help and support those homosexuals who are in need of counselling or assistance to change their lifestyle.

"I have no problem in supporting and helping someone who sees that he is going the wrong way and wants help in changing his life, but where I draw the line is when you say that it is OK and want to force others to accept your abnormal behaviour," he added.

It was reported last week that on Valentine's Day, leaders of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) in Florida staged a demonstration outside the Jamaican consulate in Miami over what they said was a series of anti-gay murders and gay-bashing incidents in the island.

The MCC, a worldwide assembly of gay, lesbian and transsexual congregants, said they were prepared to push for a boycott of Jamaican tourism if the country fails to deal with reported attacks on gays.

Sensitising police

The church also staged protests at consulates in New York, Toronto and Philadelphia. They reportedly called for a public aware-ness campaign to promote a more "gay-friendly" environment, and called on the Jamaican police to begin sensitivity training regarding the gay and lesbian communities.

The Rev Dr Lloyd Maxwell, of the AGAPE Christian Fellowship in Portmore, said that Scripture takes a very clear stance on the matter of homosexuality and, as such, the Church would not sanction nor encourage the lifestyle.

Rev Maxwell said the idea of conducting a public awareness campaign to sensitise Jamaicans on the issue is ludicrous.

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Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields has embraced the idea of sensitivity training for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to enhance the manner in which they relate to individuals of particular minority groups, including those from the homosexual community.

Mark Shields

"I think there is a place for minorities, whoever they are, to have the opportunity to speak to recruits during their initial JCF training," DCP Shields told The Gleaner yesterday. "Diversity is something that needs to be embraced. Therefore, the only way to do that is to train police officers so that they are no longer just citizens with a view and with prejudices."

Protests staged

DCP Shields' comments follow recent demands made by gay activists of a Florida-based church who staged protests outside several Jamaican consulates in the United States last week.

Leaders of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a worldwide assembly of gay, lesbian and transsexual congregants called for the Jamaican police to begin sensitivity training in relation to the gay and lesbian communities.

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