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

Anti-Gay Reggae Star Buju Banton Sentenced to 10 Years in Drug Case

And it couldn't happen to a better person.

Rabidly anti-gay "murder music" superstar Buju Banton has been sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison for his conviction for conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Banton was also found guilty of another drug trafficking offense and a gun charge at the February trial in Florida.

At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge James Moody said the 10-year sentence was the minimum he could give under federal guidelines. He said the maximum was 151 months.

[Banton] did not make a statement. He smiled as he was led away. [The defense] asked that Myrie be allowed to serve his sentence as close to Miami as possible so he could be near his family. He was living there when he was arrested in December 2009.

Banton, 37, whose real name is Mark Myrie, argued unsuccessfully that he was entrapped. Despite audio and video of the singer arranging the cocaine deal and sampling the product—and recorded blaming his financial problems on gay activists— the reggae star maintains that he was "set up."

In recent years, gay activists have called attention to Banton's lyrics and other so-called "murder music" which incites violence against gays. Banton's recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations.

In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

You May Have Missed...
Buju Banton Seeks Bail and New Trial
Banton Found Guilty in Federal Drug Case
Recordings: Banton Blames Gay Activists for $ Problems
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

Anti-Gay Reggae Star Buju Banton Asks for Leniency in Sentencing

Rabidly anti-gay "murder music" superstar Buju Banton is asking for leniency ahead of his sentencing hearing scheduled for next week. The reggae singer was convicted in February on  three federal drug conspiracy charges.

Sentencing has been scheduled for June 23 in a Tampa federa court. "Banton's attorney is expected to argue that the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years is excessive in this case," reports the AP.  The defense team is submitting letters requesting leniency from friends, family and celebrities—including actor Danny Glover, adds KABC.

In court documents filed Thursday, Banton's attorney David Markus said a 15-year-sentence is "way more than necessary" in Banton's case. Markus contends that Banton's limited participation in the drug deal, his work with charities in Jamaica and his otherwise clean record entitle the singer to a reduced sentence. The documents include letters of support for Banton from actor Danny Glover, reggae singer Stephen Marley and Atlanta Hawks basketball player Etan Thomas. Banton is also seeking an acquittal and a new trial.

Despite video and audio surveillance of Banton arranging the cocaine deal and sampling the product—and recorded blaming his financial problems on gay activists— the reggae star maintains that he was "set up."

In recent years, gay activists have called attention to Banton's lyrics and other so-called "murder music" which incites violence against gays. Banton's recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations. In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

You May Have Missed...
Buju Banton Seeks Bail and New Trial
Banton Found Guilty in Federal Drug Case
Recordings: Banton Blames Gay Activists for $ Problems
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

THEATER: Tarell Alvin McCraney Brings "American Trade" to London

Catching up with the brilliance of Tarell Alvin McCraney, the 30-year-old gay playwright sometimes described as the "heir" to August Wilson's legacy. The wunderkind's latest work is "American Trade", which he wrote during his stint as writer-in-residence at the Royal Shakespeare Company.  Hustlers, hip-hop and homophobia, he explains in a lengthy profile at the London Evening Standard.

It is, he says, "the story of an American hustler who comes to set up shop in London - and the hilarity that ensues". He has explained in the past that "my plays are about what people use to build a life on when they don't have many options". Is the hustler at the heart of this play, Pharus, chancing and charming through life from lucky break to lucky break, like him?

When I ask, McCraney smiles, but it's a small smile, looking to the side. Then he says carefully, "Pharus is somebody trying to avoid attachments - to stay naked of all the things in life that accumulate around you. I grew up in a situation where I knew not to hold anything too hard, because nothing is really yours. You have to try to be yourself, your vulnerable self, without making any attachments or any expectations. The more we attach onto those things the more they disappoint us."

In American Trade, directed by Jamie Lloyd, he teases out one way in which his identities can collide and clash. A congressman launches an investigation into homophobia in hip hop and reggae. McCraney grew up loving this music - but also being repulsed and frightened by the homophobia that saturates it. He turns even more soft-spoken when he recalls first hearing the reggae hits Boom Bah Bah to the Batty Boy and Burn De Chi Chi Man.

"That is saying, 'I'm going to shoot a gay man in the head', 'burn the chi chi man down'. These were the songs that were ringing down my block. And people were dancing to it and screaming to it and jumping up and down. Those cries, that shouting and celebrating. I mean, the day I heard that song in my neighbourhood, I had to be like 11 years old. It came on the radio and scared me so much, I almost cried. But I couldn't cry because I thought that maybe someone would know I was gay."

It's unthinkable, he says, that we would passively tolerate music that incited hatred against black people in this way. "I get very angry about it," he says. "Buju Banton just went to jail. People are saying, 'Free Buju Banton! He's such a beautiful, wise man'. Yeah, who wants to burn gay people and blow up their heads."

Read the full profile at the London Evening Standard. It's very engaging. McCraney discusses growing up in poverty and as the son of a drug-addicted mother who later died of AIDS.

Last year, McCraney became a member of the prestigious Chicago-based Steppenwolf Theatre Company. McCraney's critically-acclaimed trilogy The Brother/Sister Plays were performed last year at the theater and at two of London's most prestigious stages—The Young Vic in 2007 at the Royal Court in 2009.

"American Trade" opens at the Hampstead Theatre in London on June 2.

In February, the RSC released a video where McCraney explains the creative process behind "American Trade." Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Anti-Gay Reggae Star Buju Banton to Wait Longer for Sentencing

Sentencing has been delayed for Buju Banton, the Grammy Award-winning rabidly anti-gay "murder music" superstar, reports the Jamaica Observer. The reggae singer was convicted last month in a Tampa federal court on three drug conspiracy charges.

A federal judge in Tampa has pushed back the sentencing date [to] June 23. Banton was originally scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, but federal district Judge James S Moody Jr said, without any explanation, that the reggae artiste will now be sentenced on the new date. Banton, 37, whose real name is Mark Myrie, faces up to 20 years in prison.

Earlier this month, defense attorneys filed motions seeking Banton's release on bond while he appeals his conviction. Despite video and audio surveillance of Banton arranging the cocaine deal and sampling the product—and recorded blaming his financial problems on gay activists— the reggae star maintains that he was "set up."

In recent years, gay activists in North America and Europe have called attention to Banton's lyrics and other so-called "murder music" which incite violence against gays. Banton's recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations. In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

Keep telling yourself that, Mark.

You May Have Missed...
Buju Banton Seeks Bail and New Trial
Banton Found Guilty in Federal Drug Case
Recordings: Banton Blames Gay Activists for $ Problems
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

June Sentencing Date for Banton

A federal judge has scheduled June 16 as the sentencing date for Buju Banton, the Grammy Award-winning rabidly anti-gay "murder music" superstar. The reggae singer was convicted last month in a Tampa federal court—seen above—on three drug conspiracy charges.

The 37-year-old Jamaican national, whose real name is Mark Myrie, faces at least 15 years in prison. 

Last week, defense attorneys filed motions seeking Banton's release on bond while he appeals his conviction. Despite video and audio surveillance of Banton arranging the cocaine deal—and recorded blaming his financial problems on gay activists— the reggae star maintains that he was "set up," reports the Jamaica Observer.

The singer has maintained his innocence throughout the trial, the second since a jury reached a deadlock late last year. Banton’s attorney, David Markus, argued that the artiste never became a willing participant of the cocaine conspiracy arguing that tasting the cocaine, talking about cocaine and simply being present at the warehouse is not sufficient to find Banton guilty of the crimes.

Good luck with that, Mark.

In recent years, gay activists in North America and Europe have called attention to Banton's lyrics and other so-called "murder music" which incite violence and killing gays. Banton's  recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations. In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

You May Have Missed...
Buju Banton Seeks Bail and New Trial
Banton Found Guilty in Federal Drug Case
Recordings: Banton Blames Gay Activists for $ Problems
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

Anti-Gay Reggae Star Buju Banton Seeks Bail and New Trial

  Grammy Award-winning anti-gay "murder music" superstar Buju Banton wants to be released on bond while he appeals his conviction of federal drug conspiracy charges. Attorneys claim the Jamaican national is not a flight risk because he is too famous, reports The Associated Press.

Banton's attorney, David Markus, filed a motion Tuesday in Tampa federal court saying the singer's celebrity makes it impossible for him to flee and hide. Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, also has already surrendered his passport and he was electronically monitored when he was released on bond in November.

Banton was taken back into custody last month after a jury convicted him of two drug charges and one gun charge. Markus says the singer faces at least 15 years in prison. Markus also asked the court for a new trial. Banton's sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

The reggae superstar was convicted last month in a Tampa federal court on three drug conspiracy charges. The trial began on February 14, only one day after winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. A previous jury in September 2010 had been deadlocked.

The court heard audio recordings of conversations between Banton and a federal informant arranging a cocaine deal in 2009. Banton blamed his financial problems on gay activists—specifically GLAAD—for pressuring sponsors and venues to drop him and other artists who incite violence against gays.

Predictably, some news coverage in Jamaica has also attempted to link Banton's legal problems to his anti-gay views.

You May Have Missed...
Banton Found Guilty in Federal Drug Case
Recordings: Banton Blames Gay Activists for $ Problems
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

PHOTO: Buju Banton Mugshot

The U.S. Marshals Service has released the new mugshot of 37-year-old Mark Myrie aka Buju Banton. The "murder music" and reggae superstar was convicted Tuesday on three federal drug conspiracy charges.  A previous jury in September had  been deadlocked.

The court heard audio recordings of  conversations between Banton and a federal informant arranging a cocaine deal. Banton blamed his financial problems on gay activists—specifically GLAAD—for pressuring sponsors and venues to drop him and other artists who incite violence against gays.

Predictably, some news coverage in Jamaica has also attempted to link his legal problems to his anti-gay views.

Banton faces life in prison at his sentencing date, which has not yet been set.

Glass houses, stones, etc..

Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Found Guilty in Federal Drug Case

PHOTO: Jamaica Observer

And it couldn't happen to a better person.

A Tampa jury has convicted Grammy-winning anti-gay "murder music" and reggae superstar Buju Banton of federal drug conspiracy charges, report the Associated Press and Jamaica Observer. 

The artiste was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine, attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and using the wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence. However he was found not guilty of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence. The artiste hugged his lawyer David Markus when the verdict was read.

This was Banton's second trial, which began on February 14,  only one day after winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. Jurors returned their verdict on Tuesday, their second day of deliberations.

Banton's first trial ended in September 2010 in a hung jury.

The 37-year-old singer, born Mark Myrie, was arrested in December 2009 following a sting  operation. The Jamaican national was charged with conspiring to buy more than five kilograms of cocaine from undercover federal agents. The singer  faced four drug-trafficking and weapons charges and more than 20 years in prison. Despite video and audio surveillance, Banton maintained that he was "set up."

Last week, the court heard audio recordings of the conversations between Buju Banton and a federal informant arranging a cocaine deal. The reggae superstar blamed his financial problems on gay activists, specifically the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

In recent years, gay activists in North America and Europe have called attention to Banton's lyrics and so-called "murder music" which incite violence and call for attacking, torturing and killing gays. Banton's  recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations. In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

Jamaican news coverage of Buju Banton's arrest has attempted to link his legal problems to his anti-gay views.

You take care now, Mark. Boom boom bye-bye.

You May Have Missed...
Recordings: Banton Blames Gay Activists for $ Problems
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton "Desperate" in Recordings, Blames Gay Activists for Money Problems

PHOTO: Jamaica Observer

Today is Day Two of the federal drug conspiracy retrial of anti-gay "murder music" and reggae star Buju Banton, seen walking to federal court yesterday morning in Tampa, Florida. Banton's trial started only one day after winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album

On Monday, the court heard audio recordings of the conversations between Buju Banton and a federal informant arranging a cocaine deal. The reggae superstar and says he is "desperate" and blames his financial problems on gay activists, reports Go-Jamaica.com.

In audio recordings played in court a short while ago, Banton is heard thanking Colombian drug baron turned United States informant Alexander Johnson for an opportunity to make some money. "You have given me the opportunity to make myself again," Buju said to Johnson.

He complained to the informant the he did not make any money on his last tour and that gay-rights organisaton Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation(GLAAD) "are trying to run me under." The conversation took place while Johnson and Buju were in a vehicle driving to a police undercover warehouse where cocaine was hidden.

Banton's first trial ended in September 2010 in a hung jury.

The 37-year-old singer, born Mark Myrie, was arrested in December 2009 following a sting  operation. The Jamaican national is charged with conspiring to buy more than five kilograms of cocaine from undercover federal agents. The singer  faces four drug-trafficking and weapons charges and up to 20 years in prison. Despite video and audio surveillance, Banton maintains that he was "set up."

In recent years, gay activists in North America and Europe have called attention to Banton's lyrics and so-called "murder music" which incite violence and call for attacking, torturing and killing gays. Banton's  recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations. In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

Jamaican news coverage of Buju Banton's arrest has attempted to link his legal problems to his anti-gay views. That seems to be a recurring theme.

You May Have Missed...
Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled

Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Wins Grammy, Faces Drug Trial Today

 

PHOTO: Jamaica Observer

Anti-gay "murder music" and reggae star Buju Bantion is seen walking to federal court in Tampa, Florida this morning for the start of his federal drug conspiracy trial .... only one day after winning the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.  The Jamaica Observer reported that Banton found out he won while sitting in a Tampa hotel room. 

A member of Buju Banton's security detail rushed to the embattled Reggae artiste's hotel room yesterday afternoon thinking that something had gone wrong after he heard loud shouts coming from inside. However, the security officer's fears were calmed when he realised that Banton was celebrating news of his Grammy success.

Banton was meeting with his legal team in his hotel room in Tampa when he received news and started celebrating. "I thought that something was wrong when I heard the noise," the security officer told the Observer. "I went to check it out and found out that he won the Grammy."

Today is the beginning of Banton's second federal trial. The first trial ended in September in a hung jury.

The 37-year-old singer, born Mark Myrie, was arrested in December 2009 following a sting  operation. The Jamaican national is charged with conspiring to buy more than five kilograms of cocaine from undercover federal agents. Despite video and audio surveillance, Banton maintains that he was "set up." The singer  faces four drug-trafficking and weapons charges and up to 20 years in prison.

In recent years, gay activists in North America and Europe have called attention to Banton's lyrics and so-called "murder music" which incite violence and call for attacking, torturing and killing gays. Banton's  recent North American and European tour dates have met with protests, demonstrations and cancellations. In October 2009, San Francisco-based LGBT activists met with Banton and afterwards the reggae singer's anti-gay rhetoric appeared even more hardened: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, 'There is no end to the war between me and faggot'."

Jamaican news coverage of Buju Banton's arrest has, predictably, attempted to link his legal problems to his anti-gay views.

You May Have Missed...
First Court Appearance for "Murder Music" Singer Buju Banton
Bail Denied for Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton
Anti-Gay Singer Buju Banton Jailed on Drug Conspiracy Charges
Uganda: Pepsi Sponsors "Murder Music" Singer Beenie Man
Financial Probs for Anti-Gay Bounty Killer
iTunes Canada Pulls Anti-Gay "Murder Music"
Beenie Man and Buju Banton Cancelled