NYC reggae concert canceled after protests (homophobia)

[Moloch]

NEW YORK - Citing concerns about potential violence, an organizer on Wednesday canceled a reggae concert meant to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS after protesters complained two of the scheduled performers were anti-gay.

The organizer, LIFEbeat, came under fire by black gay activists and bloggers after it was announced that Jamaican dancehall artists Beenie Man and the group T.O.K. were scheduled to perform during a July 18 concert at Webster Hall. Protesters asked that the artists be dropped or forced to denounce controversial lyrics.

Instead, LIFEbeat, which uses the music industry to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, said it would cancel the event for safety reasons.

"The possibility of violence at the concert from the firestorm incited by a select group of activists makes canceling the event the only responsible action," it said in a statement. "It is very unfortunate, however, that the intended good that could result from bringing this community together around this potentially groundbreaking event will not be realized."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060713/ap_en_mu/music_reggae_protest_2

[marmar]

1. Not to be a gossip monger....

But rumor has it that Beenie Man's strident homophobia comes from a great deal of self-hate. (In other words, if he were a Republican, he'd live in a log cabin.)

[enough]

2. Not clear from reading the story where the threats are coming from.

From homophobes -- or from those protesting violent homophobia.

Maybe someone has some clarity on the situation.

[megatherium]

5. That's a puzzle. My read is that they're insinuating that it's gay

activists that are spoiling the party: "a select group of activists" are depriving NYC of an opportunity to come together. If my read is right, this is obnoxious: gay people have every right to complain about anti-gay lyrics. My understanding is that some of the reggae bands are quite nasty.

[Just Me]

3. They must've been warned of imminent violence.

By whom,...doesn't matter.

This is BushCO's Amerika. He and his created it. I place full responsibility on that lot of "crazies" who have stirred up "crazies".

The neocons don't work well with peace and tolerance and humanity.

[darkism]

4. Beenie Man and T.O.K. both have a history of homophobia...

...so do many dancehall artists. The question is, why did they agree to perform at an HIV benefit? True, more HIV cases occur in heterosexuals, but it's still known as a "gay disease." Unless they intended to incite violence with some homophobic preaching during their set, I can't see why they would want to play such at such an event.

EDIT: Damn this thread, making me break out the dancehall collection. Homophobic or not, it's still catchy as hell.

[shadowknows69]

6. Ok, I'm sorry but what was gained by preventing money to be made

for a good cause. Activists have to step back and look at the big picture sometimes. Am I wrong here?

[readmoreoften]

7. Yes. Beenie Man encourages listeners to kill gays in the lyrics.

It's not just some kind of macho-insecure rebuke. He's calling for people to murder gay men in the streets.

[shadowknows69]

8. Ok this I didn't know .

But I'm still torn. Good deeds should never be stopped even if done by bad people.

[readmoreoften]

9. Yes, but it's not a good deed necessarily.

Who knows what his agents agenda is. Anyone who put him on the bill in NYC is asking for disaster. I wonder what kind of organization this is who is doing such a thing. For example, if Bill Frist and Tom Delay were holding an AIDS benefit, I'd be mad skeptical. I'd wonder if it was a front for an ex-gay organization or abstinence education whathaveyou. If an AIDS benefit is just another soapbox to bash gays, then it is not a good deed.

I'm still very skeptical.

[shadowknows69]

10. Valid points

n/t

[Ian David]

11. Weasel Response from LIFEbeat re: having gaybashers on their concert bill

Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Weasel Response from LIFEbeat re: having gaybashers on their concert bill
<Wow! When Julian told me he was ready to go, I didn't think he meant this quickly.... -Mike>



Here is the press release that LifeBeat’s PR firm released in response to mounting criticism of allowing two artists to perform at the Reggae Gold fundraiser who advocate the hanging and burning of gays:

LIFEBEAT STATEMENT ON REGGAE GOLD:

LIFEbeat's mission is to utilize the power of music to raise awareness and educate in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Caribbean American community has been tremendously affected by the HIV/AIDS virus and has long kept silent about the epidemic's effect on their community for fear of being stigmatized. When planning the upcoming Hearts & Voices Reggae Gold concert, LIFEbeat’s staff and board knew this event might raise concerns by some in the gay community and required careful consideration before proceeding. LIFEbeat’s staff and board do not condone anti-gay lyrics or violence against anyone; they are an organization dedicated to promoting life. The staff and board also strongly believe that dialogue opens doors, creating the opportunity for enlightenment, growth and change amongst all involved. We all have an opportunity to look to the future, not the past, and join together in solidarity to educate, enlighten, be a part of positive change and save lives.



Jody L. Miller
JLM PR, Inc.
580 Broadway, Ste. 1208
New York, N.Y. 10012
p: 212.431.5227
f: 212.431.6818
e: [e-mail]

I have three questions for LIFEbeat:

1) How does having the artists Beanie Man and TOK, who advocate the murder of gays help the Caribbean American community to deal openly with HIV/AIDS when the disease has been stigmatized as a gay disease?

2) If LIFEbeat does not condone violence against gays then why is it allowing artists to perform who advocate the murder of gays?

3) How does having advocates of murder perform with LIFEbeat’s approval further the organizations “dedication to promoting life?”

Asking gays to "have a dialogue" with people who call for our deaths is as ridiculous as asking Jews to have discussions with neo-Nazis or for African-Americans "to have a dialogue" with the KKK.

If you feel that the press release does not address our concerns please contact John Cannelli Executive Director at 212-459-2590, ext.101 [e-mail] , and Sarah Peters, Manager, Operations at 212-459-2590, ext.119 [e-mail] .Also contact JLM to request a more substantive response to our concerns.

Many thanks to Jasmynne Cannick and Keith Boykin for shining a light on this idiocy.

More:
http://www.blogactive.com/2006/07/weasel-response-from-lifebeat-re.html

[Ian David]

12. Homophobes' reggae AIDS concert canceled

Homophobes' reggae AIDS concert canceled
Larry Buhl, PlanetOut Network
published Wednesday, July 12, 2006

A three-day firestorm that erupted after two antigay reggae artists were invited to appear at an AIDS concert ended Wednesday after the promoters pulled the plug on the event. But black gay bloggers, who say they scored a victory in quickly mobilizing the community, are still smarting from what they perceive as an indifferent and high-handed attitude by the concert organizers.

LIFEbeat, the music industry's AIDS organization, planned a Reggae Gold Live concert July 18 at New York's Webster Hall. But when word got out that performers included reggae artists Beenie Man and TOK -- whose lyrics call for beating and killing gays -- black LGBT bloggers erupted in outrage.

<snip>

Protesters say that it was insulting at best for an organization whose mission is to educate youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS to invite musicians who celebrate brutality against gay men and lesbians.

<snip>

Black LGBT activists have scheduled a news conference for Thursday at 10 a.m. at the LIFEbeat headquarters in New York to express their anger at LIFEbeat and to urge the group to schedule a new concert with nonhomophobic artists. They are requesting that proceeds go to J-FLAG, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, founded by the late Brian Williamson, who was murdered for being gay in 2004.

More:
http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2006/07/12/4

[Ian David]

13. 'Murder music' reggae stars affecting spread of HIV, says minister

'Murder music' reggae stars affecting spread of HIV, says minister
Ben Townley, GAY.COM
Monday 22 November, 2004 11:15


Anti-gay reggae music is contributing to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the UK and Caribbean, according to the UK Minister for Development Gareth Thomas, with black communities refusing to be tested for what is still perceived as a gay man’s disease.

According to The Guardian newspaper, Thomas will make comments directly linking reggae stars Buju Banton and Sizzla to the soaring HIV cases amongst black communities both here and on islands such as Jamaica and Haiti.

<snip>

“I believe in free speech, but nobody in a democracy should be able to incite violence against minorities."

<snip>

It quotes Terrence Higgins Trust figures which suggest as many as two thirds of gay and bisexual HIV positive black people in the UK do not know they are living with the virus.

<snip>

It follows a report from the Human Rights Watch (HRW), issued earlier this month, which slammed the Jamaican government for sanctioning homophobia. It added that this was restricting the fight against HIV, since local people were distrusting of health workers and advocates who urged testing.

More:
http://uk.gay.com/headlines/7166

[Ian David]

14. Anti-Gay Reggae Performer Charged In Hate Attack (Also, see other threads)

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Don't read this if you've just eaten (freeper hate speech, pro Beenie Man)
Topic started by RegularBrad on Aug-25-04 06:22 PM (0 replies)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2263112

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NYC reggae concert canceled after protests (homophobia)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2385316&mesg_id=2385316