Rod 2.0:Beta #gay #news #lgbt #gaynews

Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors Anti-Gay "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man

In Uganda, where legislation is currently pending that would mandate execution for "aggravated homosexuality": Anti-gay "murder music" singer Beenie Man performed in Kampala over the weekend, Box Turtle Bulletin reports.

"The King of Dancehall stuck a sword of words into gay people through singing and talking. “In my family, we don’t have any gay person but if you’re gay, my brother that’s not my fault,” he said as he performed his song Mi Nah Wallah, in which he says he would like to cut the throats of all gay men. George Bush and Bin Laden were also at the receiving end of the Jamaican’s wrath calling on the audience to say “murderer” as he sang about the pair’s warfare."

The concert also featured a promotion by Toyota.

In other news: Outrage over the fourth Grammy nomination of dancehall/reggae singer Buju Banton.  “It’s an affront to LGBT people, and to all fair-minded people around the world, that Buju Banton was nominated,” says Center Chief Public Affairs Officer Jim Key. “We certainly hope the members of the Recording Academy will not bestow the prestigious honor of a Grammy on someone whose music promotes murder."

Germany May Restrict Distribution of Anti-Gay Reggae Artists

The fight against anti-gay "murder music", which often glorifies violence and murder of gay men, continues to hit reggae artists in their wallets. Germany becomes the latest nation to take a stand and will "blacklist" and "restrict [the] sales and distribution" of several anti-gay reggae artists whose music is "intended to induce hate." From the English version of Deutsche Welle.

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 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.

Elephant Man and TOK, in particular, are learning the hard way that it no longer pays to sing songs that promote anti-gay violence. In April, Rod 2.0 reported iTunes Canada removed reggae albums with "anti-gay lyrics from its online store," including albums by Elephant Man, TOK and Buju Banton. Elephant Man's track "Log On" contains the lyrics "Dance wi a dance and a bun out a freaky man", or "Join our dance and let's burn out the queer man." Anti-gay Jamaican reggae singer Bounty Killer is also losing money after recent concerts were canceled in England and the government of Guyana issued a ban on the controversial singer.

"Those in Jamaica who invoke hatred should not earn money with their music in Germany," says Volker Beck, the leader of the Green Party in parliament.

Reggae CDs Under German Scrutiny for Anti-Gay Lyrics [DW]

More JAMAICA

Did You Read? ...
JA Observer Applauds PM's Anti-Gay Rant [R20]
Jamaican PM Blasts Gays [R20]
"Flaunting Sexual Preference May Incite Violence" [R20]
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]

Beenie Man: "One Gay Man is Dead, What's the Difference?"

From the Independent of London, a disturbing interview with Beenie Man—the dancehall star who has created controversy after advocating the execution of gays and lesbians. "I'm not homophobic!" he insists, saying the true meaning of his anti-gay lyrics are lost in translation. Here is his rationalization for lyrics such as, "Well I'm think of a new Jamaica, me come to execute all of the gays."

Jamaica is not against gay people. Gay means consented sex. What we have in Jamaica is not what it is in England where two men live together. In Jamaica, gay is rape. It's a big man with their money going into the ghetto and picking these little youth who ain't got nothing...Nobody sees the youth get raped, and throat cut.

C'mon. Equating gays with pedophiles is an age-old argument that is patently ridiculous. The vast majority of child molestation cases are adult men vs underage girls—in Jamaica that is also true. An even larger problem for Jamaican boys is random violence and murder, often gang- and drug-related, which the performer seems unwilling to address. "Why aren't his views about paedophiles more explicit in his music?" the interviewer says rhetorically. "And how is the listener meant to differentiate between the use of derogatory terms?"

Yes, those would have been great questions to ask—but they never were. Even more alarming is another disturbing quote that was unchecked, when Beenie Man discusses anti-gay violence in his homeland such as the 2004 murder of gay activist Brian Williamson: " 'Gay men are dead all over the world,' he shrugs, crossing his arms. 'One gay man's dead in Jamaica, so what's the difference?' "

Beenie Man: 'I'm Not Homophobic' (Independent)

Report: Violence in Jamaica 2004 (UNICEF)

Previously:

Justice, Jamaican Style (Rod 2.0) GA Atty Genl Candidate: Gay = "Pedophiles" (Rod 2.0) Lesbian Murder in Jamaica (Jasmyne Cannick) Jamaican AIDS Activist Murdered (Blabbeando) Black Republican: Gays=Criminals (Rod 2.0) LIFEbeat Latest (Rod 2.0) The Most Homophobic Place on Earth? (Rod 2.0) Buju Banton Pro/Con (Rod 2.0) Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled (Rod 2.0) Who Killed Ambassador Peter King? (Rod 2.0) The Most Homophobic Place on Earth? (Rod 2.0) Bloodlust at UWI (Rod 2.0)