Another update on the campaign by Jamaican-based gay groups to call attention to the extreme anti-gay violence and homophobia in Jamaica. In response to a campaign led by Egale and Stop Murder Music, iTunes Canada has removed "several songs with anti-gay lyrics from its online store."
Xtra.ca reports: "The songs—by Jamaican dancehall artists Buju Banton, Elephant Man and TOK—contain lyrics that advocate the killing of gays. ... iTunes has also gone a step further by removing entire albums that contain the offending songs, not just the songs themselves. Elephant Man's track Log On contains the lyrics "Dance wi a dance and a bun out a freaky man" (Join our dance and let's burn out the queer man). The album of the same name can't be downloaded on iTunes, but all of Elephant Man's other albums are available."
Akim Larcher, founder of Stop Murder Music, says iTunes' is "raising the bar for other retailers and distributors to do the same." Also this week, the iconic Red Stripe brewing label "has withdrawn thousands of dollars" (euros) in sponsorship from the popular 'Reggae Sumfest' and 'Sting' reggae show" over concern that musicians are "glorifying violence."
iTunes Pulls Murder Music [Xtra]
Did You Read? ...
JA Gays Oppose Boycott Over "Murder Music" [R20]
Church: "Ludicrous" to Condemn Anti-Gay Violence [R20]
JA Gay Activist Attacked by Mob Seeks Asylum [R20]
JA Mob Attacks Two Gay Men [R20]
Angry Mob of 2,000 Jamaicans Attack Gays [R20]
Did Jamaican Cops "Rescue" Gays? [R20]
JA Leading Newspaper Demands Equal Rights [R20]
Justice, Jamaican Style [R20]
Bloodlust at UWI [R20]
"One Gay is Dead, What's the Difference?" [R20]
"Jamaica, Island of Hate" [R20]
Justice, Jamaican Style [R20]
Jamaican Newspaper Criticizes Anti-Gay Laws [R20]
"Gay Panic" Defense in Brutal Slaying [R20]
Who Killed Ambassador Peter King? [R20]
"Gay Panic" in Killing of Popular Priest [R20]
"Flaunting Sexual Preference May Incite Violence" [R20]
Rather than singling out a particular song or venue, why not put Jamaican dancehall artists who perform "murder music" OUT OF BUSINESS. In other words, destroy their careers. If these so-called artists were advocating, say, the murder of Jews their "careers" would already be over.
Posted by: elg | 10 April 2008 at 17:22
@ elg, you're absolutely right, but we gotta start somewhere right? This is a considerable blow to their pockets and if this doesn't work-it seems to be working since just recently the deputy Commissioner of Police in Jamaica said his officers will be undergoing "sensitivity training" to improve the way they deal with gay people. Not where we'd like to be just yet but headed in the right direction for sure!
Posted by: Shabaka | 10 April 2008 at 18:00