Jamaica Gleaner Applauds Red Stripe's Stand on "Murder Music"

More positive updates from Jamaica on the fight against so-called  "murder music" , the subgenre of dancehall and reggae that advocates violence and death for gays and lesbians. A popular op-ed contributor to the Jamaica Gleaner, the island's largest newspaper, applauds the recent decision by the iconic Red Stripe brewing label to withdraw sponsorship from the popular "Reggae Sumfest."

Dennie Quill writes: "I have decided to purchase a few cases of Red Stripe beer.  As of now all visitors to my home will be having beer, like it or not. Why? This is my way of applauding the brewing giant for taking the bold decision to withdraw sponsorship of local concerts which feature filthy, violent lyrics from artistes who spew hatred and slackness from the stage. ...

"Some of the artistes have reacted with outrage and are seemingly taking the fight to Red Stripe. They say Red Stripe's decision is influenced by its European owners who have been stung by the anti-gay lyrics of the dancehall. That might very well be so, and no country in the world will tolerate lyrics that call for obliteration of any group. How is this different from sanctioning lynching?"

The Jamaica Gleaner is slowly making progress. Once known for publishing ridiculously homophobic stories such as "High School Girls Gone Gay", the editorials and op-eds are slowly taking a more progressive tone and in February 2007 an editorial urged the legislature to end restrictions on sodomy and gay rights.

Meanwhile, the fight against "murder music" continues to hit reggae artists in their checkbook. Recently, anti-gay  reggae singer Bounty Killer was banned from Guyana and British authorities canceled two of his concerts.

Hooray for Red Stripe [JA Gleaner]

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Did You Read? ...
Guyana Will Ban Anti-Gay Bounty Killer [R20]
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer [R20]
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music" [R20]
Buju Banton Concert Cancelled [Club Rimshot]
Buju Banton Busted By The Bay [Keith Boykin]
Buju Banton Pro/Con [R20]
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled [R20]
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]

Comments

[Donald]

Progress duly noted. I might even have to find a bottle myself ...

[Taylor Siluwe]

Bravo for Red Stripe!!

I always loved their 'strange' commercials.

[Anon]

I think the music as a whole is starting to shift away from the anti-gay thing as the new artist are starting to see how much it hurts the older ones.

BUT. The type of music which is replacing it in dancheall is probably 1000% more violent overall and it is selling, they're just not saying things about gays anymore.