Anti gay Dancehall acts Sizzla & Capleton's shows cancelled in the US

So JAGLA, Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians living abroad got it right this time around and targeted the actual artists (Sizzla directly) due to his homophobic lyrics and refusal to even budge on his position, he has had problems in Europe for some time as well but in Africa it is smooth sailing as the LGBT groups there have not yet bought into the Stop murder music campaign not even from my tenure with JFLAG and Outrage or Tjenbre Red in France. Earlier this year during the Queen Ifrica fiasco he sided with the artist in claiming that the LGBT lobby was choking freedom of speech but while there may be some appearance of such as that particular case was overkill since Queen Ifrica said no words as inciteful as Sizzla has repeatedly he cannot be allowed to escape.

See previous Stop Murder Music posts on sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress: HERE

also see previous posts on his infractions etc:

Sizzla bats for Queen Ifrica as expected

Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

Sizzla Hits Back At Gay Rights Critics ..............

Say No To Hate Music Petition for anti gay artists slated for European shows

Zimbabweans love dancehall but not many there agree

Capleton protest in Sacramento makes Fox News (Video included)

Sizzla's concert cancelled (France), Montpellier's mayor re-affirms firm stand

Tjenbé Rèd defends its position on Stop Murder Music and Sizzla following damning French article

Sizzla Concert Cancelled in France .................

SMM protests Sizzla in Denmark

Locked out - Jamaican acts finding it more and more difficult to get into some countries

Reggaeville reported:

Sizzla's long awaited US-Tour, which was scheduled for November/December is off! The tourstart was postponed last week and dates have been re-scheduled for december very quick, but now the complete tour has been cancelled.

The US agency IAA issued the statement below to explain the cancellation and possible tour in 2014:

In 15 years of agenting and working with International artists from every area of the world, I have never seen anything so screwed up as this mess with Sizzla's immigration. Sizzla, Myself, His Lawyer were all promised the moon and the stars when we began booking this tour. We were so careful that we allowed a 3 month leeway to secure all the appropriate Visas beyond when the immigration attorney said she would have them. He was given his I129 and O1-B Status and all was presented as well. In short, the interview today did not go well and they denied his entry into America.

It is not a dead issue, but I am no longer comfortable waiting and seeing. What I would like to do is postpone the tour and look at rebooking it for February and March. In the meantime once he does gain entrance into the states, we will fly him over to do a national press release on the tour and explain how all of the promoters on this tour were so supportive and patient with the process.

I am deeply saddened by the news and I can say this is one of the worst weeks in my career. I would like to speak with each and every one of you and welcome a call. For the sake of alleviating some stress right now, I ask that we at least wait until monday to speak. I am at a loss for words and very upset. My company worked very very very hard and was given some unfair guidance and as a result we as you are left holding the bulk of this disaster. I am confident in Sizzla and I do really like he and his management team. They are good people and we expect that this will be a very lucrative tour in March and April. We are hoping to have his clearances overturned in the coming week or two. I really need to be extra careful and limit any more last minute cancellations. I hope you understand and we will be in touch next week.

Stephen Brush
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AGENCY
www.iaatalent.com

ENDS

TVJ's Entertainment Prime also touched the matter on November 19th:

More posts from sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica:

Sizzla Rejects J-FLAG Olive Branch .......... oh really?

Sizzla Concert Cancelled from Chiemsee Reggae & Austrian Sunsplash Shows

Sizzla shows cancelled in Denmark in European tour

Sizzla show stopped in Canada

London's Met Police defend decision not to ban homophobic performer

Stop Murder Music network in France Press Release 2008

Sizzla cancelled yet again in Belgium

Stop Murder Music France launches action to Sizzla's French tour

Peace and tolerance

H

Queen Ifrica's "Freedom of Speech" & advocacy found wanting

So as Queen Ifrica fires back with her latest tune released two days ago in response to the firestorm well aided and abetted by none other than the faithful lobby Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays, JFLAG in a press release describing the Queen's anti homosexual rant at the recent independence day celebrations a follow up to a similar performance by her friend Tony Rebel the year before as vitriolic yet they couldn't justify it in the end. The over intellectualized press release was laughed at by the two who pigeon holed JFLAG for being dishonest and putting undue pressure on the music industry as it were via the Stop Murder Music Campaign but after hearing the disastrous performance on a Nationwide radio interview with the two aforementioned artistes earlier this month and the Executive Director of JFLAG Dane Lewis which forced the goodly gentleman to apologies for supposedly labelling the acts as homophobic, "vitriloic" and on some "anti gay animus" the snickering by the two left me feeling I wasted my time at the goodly J back in the day. Tempers flared days following as news spread that the J apologized to the Queen and by extension Tony Rebel with host Cliff Hughes the self appointed referee. Subsequent discussions on other radio stations just made me wonder if after all this calms down if we won't see a resurgence of such lyrics as the charge now being led by a female artist bearing in mind males carried the day on such materials.

JFLAG's press release read as follows:

J-FLAG notes with profound disappointment the anti-gay animus expressed by Queen Ifrica at the Grand Gala on August 6, 2013. Her sentiment is an example of the unabated divisiveness we continue to allow to take prominence on the national stage. Queen Ifrica’s remark is similar to the vitriolic sentiments which came from Tony Rebel at the celebrations last year and should have never been allowed again.
We are surprised this happened on the day the Prime Minister urged us, in her Independence Day Message, to accord respect to people so every Jamaican can feel a sense of belonging in our society.

It is regrettable that the government has not been able to guarantee non-discriminatory performances from artistes for such a high-profile function as the Grand Gala. We encourage the government to follow the example of reggae and dancehall promoters and their sponsors who consistently draft contracts proscribing penalties for the use of indecent language, discriminatory rhetoric, and incitement to violence. Independence celebrations showcase the best of Jamaica’s indigenous artistic and cultural expressions, and are held to a high standard from their inception.

As the nation passes the 50 year mark and enters a new epoch of its history, we must zealously work to protect the dignity of all Jamaicans without any distinction. We have all pledged to play our part in advancing the welfare of the whole human race. These words are especially poignant in such a celebratory period of our nationhood. We are therefore compelled to reflect on these and other patriotic words of commitment found in our National Anthem and Pledge.
Jamaica cannot become the place of choice to live and raise families unless respect and dignity can be given to the entire Jamaican family. As we celebrate Jamaica’s 51st year of independence we must also celebrate the importance of peace, democracy, justice, and equality for the continuation of our prosperity as a nation.

ENDS

Yesterday's interview on radio Jamaica, RJR's Beyond the headlines hosted by Dionne Jackson Miller left me even more dazed as the intellectual masturbatory rant by the education officer of the J, Javed Jaghai had many persons asking why can't he and others from the group communicate in simple English so all can be on board and remembering at was the urbane sophisticated image of the voices in the lobby is what is being targeted and ridiculed by the anti gay voices and indeed the LGBT "community" or at least sections of it. Even as host Dionne Jackson Miller tried to steer Javed and the other guest from the new Canadian group comprising of so called Jamaican gays and allies from Canada that the SMM in its old form achieved its primary objective which was to wipe out the harsh prescriptive lyrical content of death and methods of same for perceived male homosexuals in particular he insisted however on trying to force in some new thinking in his mind which did not sit well with the Canadian based group representative who insisted that Queen Ifrica be not allowed to enter Canada in an upcoming performance she is booked so to carry out.

the station's site carried this: Gay community split on Queen Ifrica’s Canada performance

The SMM back in the day was surgical in its nature and sought to target only those artists that had directly offending lyrics such as Capleton's - Shot Him Up, Beenieman's - All Battyman Fi Dead that were clear in their description and prescription on gay men's demise in the long standing purification of the earth imperative. The victim ploy being used by the music industry to suggest that the SMM's impact over the years is not true, dancehall has always had spirals in its support in certain market and especially in Europe traditional Reggae forms still are more popular as the older artists still carry the day such as Burning Spears as they are even more popular than modern day dancehall acts and with the absence of names such as Vybz Kartel and Ninjaman who just recently has been allowed to travel as his legal woes continue the attraction to the genre is fickle. The SMM targeted mostly the US, Canadian, European and a few African States with the latter for a short time as they withdrew. The campaign took a life of its own as overseas activists in turn carried on the role as JFLAG went quiet for a while and the foreign activists became astute in deciphering the local patois dialect. Then came the so called Reggae Compassionate Act that was to act as an agreement between artists that signed and promoters in not performing such tainted materials but some artists developed a stage trick where the band would strike up a chord of the respective anti gay track then the audience would fill in the rest loudly and willingly while the artist remains mum on stage. When confronted as to the infringement they would claim that they never actually performed the song. So the campaign changed its look and feel again but slowed down somewhat, it soon picked up again when some French activists reconnected with local contacts including yours truly where again the campaign took on a new life going after two main big names, Capleton, Sizzla and then other artists such as Elephant Man, Beenieman tried daring the system as they used Sizzla's repeated opposition and well oiled PR strategy. 

see: Sizzla Rejects J-FLAG Olive Branch .......... oh really?

Also see posts on Murder Music from sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica

Over the years though the pressure rose to a pitch and hence the lyrical content changed meanwhile the public's taste also seem to commensurately decrease for such materials as newer artists came with more faster paced techno sounding tracks highlighting fashion, women (as usual) and individualism playing right into the metrosexual psyche that now pervades local culture (hence male bleaching or skin lightening etc) once frowned upon and seen as major taboos. It seems our new self appointed voices did not apprise themselves of the history of this major and successful agitation to change the output that demonized gay men. Today we still do have anti gay lyrics but more so on the perceived gay for pay phenomenon that hints on forced initiation or men who "sell out" themselves for material wealth by getting into same sex relations; for example Busy Signal's - Nuh Boi Caan Buy Mi Out (No men can't buy me out)

Meanwhile the Jamaica Observer had reported some days ago:

A poster placed on Facebook by JAGLA reads — “No Queen Ifrica roun’ here! Canada says — stop homophobic Jamaica singer from performing at ‘Rastafesta’ in Toronto on August 24.”

(photo added here only)

JAGLA has also called on the Minister of Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC) to immediately withdraw a work permit issued to Queen Ifrica ahead of her performance at Rastafest.

“Ifrica's reported homophobic outburst came days after the killing of Dwayne Jones, the teenage cross dresser” said a statement from the organisation.
The group added that Ifrica's remark is not the first of its kind and reflects the mood of Jamaica, where gays and lesbians are exposed to hatred and intolerance resulting in attacks and even murder.

According to JAGLA, by allowing Queen Ifrica whose given name is Ventrice Morgan, to perform in Toronto, the government is sending a message that murder music from anti-gay profilers is welcomed in Canada.

“The Canadian government now has the opportunity to send a clear signal to groups, countries and individuals who wish to incite intolerance against gays and lesbians through various forms” the statement continued.

JAGLA describes itself as a group comprising of Jamaican gays, lesbians and allies, living in the Diaspora.
During her performance at the Grand Gala, Queen Ifrica made statements glorifying male straightness, heterosexual marriage and the legalisation of marijuana.


She defended herself against statements made in a press release by the The Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (JFLAG) in which they expressed disappointment over her anti-gay statements.
The group said her sentiments are an example of the constant prejudice that is being allowed to take prominence on the national stage and that the remarks she made bears some resemblance to statements fellow reggae recording artiste Tony Rebel made at the same event last year.
But in her response, Queen Ifrica explained that she merely expressed what she had believed in, and that it was unfair for them to make her into a villain.

“I am not homophobic,” Queen Ifrica insisted.

ENDS

With sentiments from sections of the LGBT community still not favourable following the not so tidy exclusion of some homeless men from the International Day Against Homophobia symposium on May 17th then the subsequent comments and stern criticisms from other seasoned advocates and a former Programs Manager the staff of the goodly J has chosen instead to remove themselves from Facebook groups that have such persons present apparently to absolve themselves of scrutiny and queries and so it appears to some even one time staunch defenders that they are more interested in personalities, the image of JFLAG on the international stage and self congratulatory gestures that addressing the real issues out there while more and more persons are arriving at a damning conclusion that the do not care about certain socio-economic classes really and making headlines with "expert" conferences are more important.

All of this fiasco is more that just about accusations and counter accusations it shows more clearly than ever that if JFLAG and others want to convince the public on reaching some semblance of tolerance (despite the non demonstrable evidence of same - case in point the perception the homeless were abandoned) they need to make their communications overall as simple as possible to reach a wider audience and stop the over intellectualizing; they seem to be on a frolic of their own, I hope they learn the lessen in all this and as for foreign based voices they need to get with it and carefully scan the ground before launching campaigns, this reminds me too much of the EGALE mishap in 2008/9 as well where they in Canada called for a tourism boycott and we ended up with a spike in homo-negative violence towards persons on the ground and a diplomatic nightmare. There are implications for public agitations that must not be ignored when decisions are made to launch such. Persons also need to be properly prepared before eagerly jumping to go on radio or other media and sounding stupid in the end.

See the Stop Murder Music Tab immediately below for previous entries.

Peace and tolerance

H

Additional stuff/video from 2007 with some former allies Dennis Carney and Peter Tatchell:

additional reading on Stop Murder Music from 2010:
Gays Move to Ban Reggae/Dancehall in Germany says the Xtranews where German authorities including a gay MP joined the discourse as reported in the now defunct XNews tabloid.

More Murder Music posts from GLBTQJA on Wordpress

UPDATE August 26, 2013
Nationwide radio's Emily Crooks during her What's On My Mind segment of her show gave her two cents alongside Naomi Francis co-host, I am total agreement with her, JAGLA over reached in this case:

Say No To Hate Music Petition for anti gay artists slated for European shows

Sizzla one of Jamaica's caustic artists is slated to make appearances alongside other artists in Europe in the coming months and a call has come through a petition captioned above to Say No To Hate Music from LGBT activists in that side of the globe. Let us not forget in late 2011  ..............

 

Sizzla himself broke the RCA, Reggae Compassionate Act by performing an anti gay anthem "Boom Bye Bye" by fellow artist Buju Banton in Montego Bay at a Coca Cola sponsored event. Coca Cola (Coke Zero) at the time upon news of the infraction brought to their attention offered an apology overall and directly messaged me and commented on my sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress the following: 

This is Carlos from Coca-Cola. We, too, were deeply disappointed that a program intended to celebrate the heritage of Jamaica included an unacceptable performance that in no way represents the views or values of the Coca-Cola system.

Diversity is one of our key values, and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including discrimination based on sexual orientation.

As a result of this regrettable incident by one artist, we are reassessing and strengthening our efforts to ensure that events we sponsor are not used as platforms for espousing hatred and discrimination. We are continuing to work with the advocacy groups that brought this situation to our attention.

We apologize to all who were offended by this performance, and we we want to ensure that our views on this incident are clear.

Carlos Diaz
Coca-Cola Caribbean

The Petition's call: A number of clubs in Europe (also in Belgium again where a show was cancelled before) will offer a stage in March and April 2012 to an "artist" who calls for the murder of LGBT people, To read more about what I'm trying to do and to sign the petition, click here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/say-no-to-hate-music-don-t-give-a-platform-to-singers-who-call-for-the-murder-of-lgbt-people

Let the event sponsors know what we think about their support for hate and violence. Tell them that we will not tolerate it anymore. Last year another petition was a huge success and together we could prevent most of the concerts of a similar singer.

It'll just take a minute! Together we can make a change!

Why This Is Important

A number of clubs in Europe will offer a stage in March and April to an "artist" who calls for the murder of LGBT people. It is time to speak up again and to call for a boycott of these events and their sponsors. Several clubs invited the singer Sizzla, who uses his songs to encourage the murder of homosexuals:

Here are some of Sizzla's lyrics (translations in parentheses):

In "Pump Up" he sings:
Step up inna front line (Step up to the front line)
fire fi di man dem weh go ride man behind (burn the men who have sex with men from behind)
Shot battybwoy, my big gun boom (Shoot queers, my big gun goes boom)

In "Boom Boom" he sings:
Boom boom! Batty boy them fi dead (Boom boom! Queers must be killed)

In the song "Get To Da Point" he sings:
Sodomite and batty bwai mi seh a death fi dem (Sodomite and queers, I say death to them)
Mi no trust babylon fi a second yah so (I don't trust Babylon for a second)
Mi a go shot batty bwai dem widdi weapon ya (I go and shoot queers with a weapon [as in gunshots])

At a reggae concert in Chicago in April 2002, Sizzla bragged that he kills queers, and also incited the audience to murder gays and lesbians: "mi nuh go tek back mi chat... mi kill sodomite and batty man dem bring aids and disease pon people... shot a kill dem, mi nuh go tek back mi chat" [I wont take back my words... I kill sodomites and queers, they bring AIDS and disease upon people... shoot and kill them, I won't take back my words.]

In 2008 he was arrested and sent back to the United States after he arrived for a concert in Madrid after Spanish human right organizations protested against what they said was his call for violence against homosexuals. In 2007, Sizzla's concerts in Toronto and Montreal had been cancelled after protests. In 2009 and 2010 several concerts in Germany had been cancelled after public protests against the concerts. Two of Sizzla's albums are forbidden to be sold in Germany, and a German politician compares this kind of music with neo-Nazi music. We must build on this growing movement.

These songs are all on YouTube. And these are not all of Sizzla’s homophobic songs. Sizzla signed the Reggae Compassionate Act agreement promising to “respect and uphold the rights of all individuals to live without violence due to their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender”. But he violated his agreement immediately. In an interview in the Canadian entertainment magazine 'Hour', Sizzla said: "...burn sodomite, burn battyman. Burn all things that are wrong. Burn it... We must get rid of Sodom and Gomorrah right now..."

We demand that the 18 Clubs (Live Club in Milano, Atlantico in Rome, Reigen in Vienna, Travastia in Helsinki, Strand in Stockholm, Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Melkweg in Amsterdam, L'Oval in Nancy, Heidegger in Rotterdam, Oosterport in Groningen, Vooruit in Gent, TMN ao VIVO in Lisbon, La Rocher Palmer in Bordeaux, Rockstore in Montpellier, Apolo in Barcelona, Sala Arena in Madrid, Sala Vivero in Malaga, and Rambleta in Valencia) to immediately withdraw their support of people who call for hate, violence, and murder -- towards gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people, and anyone at all!

Other clubs slated to book artists include

Club Atlantico in Rome, Italy
Club Reigen in Vienna, Austria
Club Atlantico in Rome, Italy
Ufficio Stampa (Club Atlantico in Rome, Italy)
Travastia in Helsinki, Finland
Travastia in Helsinki, Finland
Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway
Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway
Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway
Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands
L'Oval in Nancy, France
Heidegger in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Heidegger in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Vooruit in Gent, Belgium
TMN ao VIVO in Lisbon, Portugal
La Rocher Palmer in Bordeaux, France
Rockstore in Montpellier, France
La Rocher Palmer in Bordeaux, France
La Rocher Palmer in Bordeaux, France
Rockstore in Montpellier, France
Sala Apolo in Barcelona, Spain
Sala Arena in Madrid, Spain
Sala Vivero in Malaga, Spain
La Rambleta in Valencia, Spain
Promoter (Bunfiresquad)
Eventlocation (Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Live Club in Trezzo sull'Adda (near Milano), Italy
Vooruit in Ghent, Belgium
Vooruit in Ghent, Belgium
Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway
Rockefeller Music Hall in Oslo, Norway
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands
De Oosterpoort in Groningen, Netherlands
Melkweg in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Strand in Stockholm, Sweden
Strand in Stockholm, Sweden
KB West and Maestro Prod. (Tim Badejo)

Go HERE TO SIGN the Petition & spread the word.

Peace and tolerance

H

Cardinal rejects link between celibacy and sexual abuse

Agence France-Presse

VATICAN CITY -- A leading Vatican prelate on Monday rejected any link between the requirement of celibacy for priests and the spate of paedophilia scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church.

“Celibacy has nothing to do with the sexual abuse of minors,” Cardinal Walter Kasper said, as calls for the Church to rethink the tradition grow.

“Paedophilia has no connection with the very old tradition that prevents priests from marrying,” the German cardinal said in an interview with the Italian daily La Stampa published on Monday.

“All the experts agree that the vast majority of cases occur in families, not in the Church environment,” said Mr. Kasper, who heads the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Mr. Kasper’s comments come amid questions within the Church over whether priestly celibacy may contribute to paedophilia.

Two Austrian archbishops earlier this month urged the Church to reexamine the issue of priest celibacy when considering the possible causes behind the current sex abuse scandal.

But Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, the former archbishop of Milan, denied on Monday having told an Austrian newspaper that he wanted priests’ celibacy to be re-thought.

Die Presse “did not speak to me directly but used a letter of mine to Austrian youths”, Mr. Martini told the ANSA news agency. “The text of the letter I approved said: ‘Priests’ lifestyles should be rethought.’”

He was not referring to celibacy, Mr. Martini said, but wished to stress “the importance of promoting greater... fraternity among priests to avoid as much as possible situations of loneliness.”

Mr. Martini added: “It is a stretch to link the obligation of priestly celibacy to the scandals of violence and abuse of sexual nature.”

Pope Benedict XVI on March 12 defended celibacy, saying it was a “sign of full devotion” and of an “entire commitment to the Lord.”

Kolcha Blog on the Jamaican Boycott

I found this lovely blog by a Jamaican living "Up suh" covering everything from women's rights, misogyny, classism and more. There is a very interesting post on the Boycott launched in San Francisco earlier this year called: Boycott Against Institutionalized Bigotry the name of the blog is "Tuori Kom Tu Bomp" a patois derivative meaning Story Comes to Bump or things come to a head.

I would have called it Tori Cum To Bump mi Luv but everybody do dem ting diffrent yah sah.

The post includes the following:
The hatred perpetuated against homosexuals, and the reasoning used to support such attitudes, are no longer secrets. Everyday, in communities across the world, people live in fear, only because they have an attraction to people of the same sex. Society doesn't understand these people, and the bible explicitly says their lifestyles are abominable, and so the land must be purged of them.

Now I wonder, how many people with this view know a homosexual? And I don't mean, oh you've seen one on tv- Not many I bet.

It's incredulous that I have to state this, but I will- you haven't met one yet, not because they are rare, unnatural members of the human world, but because the majority of them fear for being ostracized by their families and their societies, and if you are from Jamaica, or any of the other notoriously homophobic societies, for their lives. Homosexuality is not viewed as a variance of human sexuality, but as a purposeful choice against what is most natural. I can't imagine why anyone would choose to lead a life of shame and fear...It's so frustrating to me to be writing this, because I don't know what I need to say to homophobes to convince them that their beliefs have no rational basis; that their attitudes towards queer identified individuals is a most obvious display of their poor understanding of human gender identity and sexual expression. People are not simply male or female based on their genitalia, and they do not fit prescribed gender roles and sexual orientations because you desire it to be so.


The reality is much more complex than you have been led to believe.The Jamaican government needs a wake up call, because they speak against homosexuals as though there are none living in Jamaica. This is no simple matter, and it must be dealt with in earnest. Unfortunately, the many people who believe in advocating for a change in the government's position continue to shy away, because they do not want to be implicated as sexual deviants.


This is somewhat understandable, but what is the alternative? Let us have the gay men in Jamaica organize a pride march through Kingston, because they are best able to lobby for their rights in a most oppressive context. You do not need to be black to be a black rights activist, and you do not need to be a woman to be a women's rights activist. All you need is a conscience, which many of us seem to have lost on or evolutionary trail to the present day. Where are the feminist groups advocating for greater representation of women in government, and better harassment and sexual abuse laws to protect women? Where are the liberal groups speaking our against legal moralism, and the crippling hold it has on the archaic laws of our land?


Where are the Human Rights advocates who are brave enough to declare war on the government, for maintaining laws that actively discriminate against a minority group in the nation? Jamaicans are so expressive, so open, so loud. Why is it that we only hear the church bellowing discriminatory garb down our throats?Jamaica is in the spotlight once more, and the time is ripe for us to express to our government that we need it to stand up for the rights of all Jamaicans. Liberty, and equal protection under the law are touted as inalienable rights in the Jamaican constitution, but so many are without it- and they have no chance of attaining it without powerful, orchestrated efforts by those who recognize this need.




Continue here for the full Post.


I woulda bookmark it too or falla it if yuh a part a blogga.


H

Jamaican Columnist Speaks Out against Antigay Violence

Jamaica is a nation where antigay vigilantism is culturally accepted; authorities leave violence unpunished; and no GLBT organization can meet in public, hold events, or advocate publicly for justice and equality. In Jamaica, it takes courage to simply say “no” to violence.

Columnist Diane Abbott of The Jamaica Observer on Sunday wrote a column citing numerous recent reports of antigay murder and vigilantism. She warned that public denial of the severity of such violence harms Jamaica’s reputation.

Because attitudes to homosexuality in Jamaica are so hostile, it is not sufficiently understood how damaging its stand on the issue is outside the country.

A U.S.-based, pro-equality boycott against Jamaica was put on hold earlier this year when J-FLAG, Jamaica’s GLBT organization-in-hiding, withheld its support.

Nevertheless, Abbott says Jamaicans should learn from the boycott and from numerous reports of antigay violence:

The boycott has so far been unsuccessful. But a country dependent on tourism cannot afford to ignore the fact that attitudes to homosexuality in other countries have moved on. There are probably as many people in Britain who are privately judgemental about homosexuals and lesbians as there are in Jamaica. But the British take the view that what people do in the bedroom is their affair. So gay marriage is legal and leading politicians in both the government and opposition parties have publicly acknowledged their sexual orientation and married their partners. It is difficult to imagine such a state of affairs coming about in Jamaica any time soon.

But Jamaica could do more to stress that despite the blood-curdling lyrics of much of its popular music, it is a more tolerant society than people think. And violence against gay people should be universally condemned.

Former Jamaican Activist decries San Fran boycott of Jamaica

Activists on the ground ignored, jeopardized

A Jamaican gay activist living in Toronto is speaking out against a US-based boycott of Jamaican tourism and products.

Gareth Henry, who fled Jamaica to Canada last year because of antigay violence, attempted a similar boycott in 2008. But because of what he calls “lessons learned,” he tells Xtra he does not support the current boycott, launched Mar 28 in San Francisco.

Henry says boycotts against Jamaican tourism and products are counterproductive, leading to a backlash and an increase in antigay violence. In the past three weeks, he says, four lesbians in Jamaica have reported being raped by men who referred to the boycott during the attacks.

Henry also says that the activists behind the US boycott did not heed the advice of gay activists in Jamaica, including members of the group he used to cochair, the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (JFLAG).

“These activists went to JFLAG and were told that this was not the right time for a boycott but they went ahead and did it anyway,” says Henry. “What gives them the authority to say that they think they know what is best for gay Jamaicans? That’s insulting.”

The controversy over the boycott began after US activists — including San Francisco-based Michael Petrelis and Wayne Besen decided to take action in light of a Feb 25 report released by the US State Department detailing human rights abuses in Jamaica over the past year.

The report details abuses “including arbitrary detention [of gay people], mob attacks, stabbings, harassment of homosexual patients by hospital and prison staff and targeted shootings of homosexuals. Police often did not investigate such incidents.”

Jamaican law prohibits “acts of gross indecency” between men, either in public or in private. Such “crimes” are punishable by up to 10 years in prison. (The full report can be read at State.gov/g/drl/-rls/hrrpt/2008/wha/119165.htm.)

The report led Petrelis, Besen and others in the US to launch a boycott of tourism to Jamaica as well as boycotts of Jamaican-produced Myers’s Rum and Red Stripe Beer.

In a statement posted on HuffingtonPost.com, Besen explains his reasons for joining the boycott. Under the headline “Jamaica: A Killer Vacation for Gays,” he writes, “Why boycott? Because Jamaica is on a downward spiral and suffers from collective cultural dementia on this issue. There is clearly a pathological panic and homo-hysteria that has infected this nation at its core.

“The second reason to boycott is because traditional activism has failed,” continues Besen. “I first read about Jamaica’s horrific violence against gay people in a 2004 New York Times editorial, ‘Hated to Death in Jamaica.’ In 2006 Time magazine had an article about the island headlined, ‘The Most Homophobic Place on Earth.’”

JFLAG and others say Besen is wrong and that on-island activism is working. Jason McFarlane, programs manager for JFLAG, released an open letter on Apr 14 opposing the boycott, specifically as it targets Red Stripe Beer.

“In April 2008, Red Stripe took the brave and principled stance to cease sponsorship of music festivals that promoted hate and intolerance, including that against members of the LGBT community,” he writes. “The naming of Red Stripe, therefore, as a target of this boycott is extremely damaging to the cause of LGBT activists in Jamaica.”

No one from JFLAG was available to talk to Xtra before press time.

Henry wants Besen and others to call off the boycott and work with JFLAG and international organizations on finding a common course of action.

“They need to focus their energy on being part of a coalition geared to helping gay Jamaicans,” says Henry. “We have to move forward as a team.”

But that may be difficult given that the US activists refuse to call off the boycott. Plus, Besen and others are blaming activist groups like Human Rights Watch (HRW) for inaction on the Jamaica file. Besen says HRW, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and the Metropolitan Community Church are opposing his boycott because they want to launch their own campaigns against Jamaica.

Scott Long, head of HRW’s LGBT Rights Division, told Xtra that his organization has not taken any position on the US-led boycott. However, he says the tactics of the boycott’s backers are “ill-advised.”

“Human Rights Watch has worked with JFLAG and tried to support them and we will not endorse anything that they don’t support,” says Long. “It is simply ill-advised to launch an action without talking to the activists on the ground.

“JFLAG has taken small, but significant steps to open up a dialogue with police. Why has it taken so long? Well, in the US, it took 16 years for the Supreme Court to strike down sodomy laws. In Romania, it took 11 years. So it’s not going to be a quick and easy process. Regardless there must be cooperation with and respect for the activists on the frontlines.”


Update:

Diageo North America, the makers of Myers Rum and Red Stripe Beer, sent the below statement to Xtra on May 5.

"Diageo has an extremely strong record of supporting LGBT issues, including in Jamaica. Given this, it is highly disappointing, indeed ironic, that the boycott advocates are targeting one of the most gay-friendly companies that operates in Jamaica. Diageo has already taken positive action in areas that are within our realm of influence and is the only company to take such a strong position against anti-gay violence in Jamaica, as commended by leaders in the Jamaican LGBT community.

"Diageo is also proud that it has a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. We have global non-discrimination policies in place that apply to all of our operations, including Jamaica, and our global Human Rights Policy includes an explicit prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation.

"Diageo’s global poli cy is to extend benefits to domestic partners on the same basis as we extend them to married spouses, where permitted by law. Diageo also covers HIV retrovirals and treatment for employees in Jamaica; most insurance providers in Jamaica do not cover HIV medications or treatment. In 2005, Diageo sponsored an HIV/AIDS education campaign in Jamaica.

"We have seen no impact on our business in the U.S. as a result of this boycott, and we believe that our record in the LGBT community demonstrates that Diageo is the kind of company that the LGBT community should and will want to support."

Zsoka McDonald
Spokesperson
Diageo North America
Norwalk, CT

To boycott or not to boycott

With the present San Franciscan boycott of Red Stripe Beer, Myers Rum and Blue Mountain coffee on in earnest without abatement any time soon tempers are flaring as to how to proceed with the issue on one hand JFLAG the nation's second and only operating LGBT rights advocacy group says "NO" to any argument of a boycott at this time.

They believe it may have serious implications on the ground for suspected LGBT persons safety and security. There is proof that confirms so, the EAGALE boycott which was well publicised last year was said to be the cause of an increase in attacks on gays and lesbians here, more so on lesbians, as before most victims of homophobic violence on record were gay men. A reported 9 lesbians in all came formally through JFLAG's crisis intervention system to seek help and to rebuild their lives. One couple in particular had to flee their home following threats and a subsequent breakin from a group of persons living in their area. There were anecdotal reports of several more who however chose to privately handle their respective issues.

See JFLAG's blog for more on those reports: http://www.jflag.blogspot.com/

There have been some debate as to how to proceed, some argue we should go ahead with the boycott and support it fully while JFLAG on the other hand says we shouldn't as there maybe awful outcomes. They claim that a reversal of a major milestone may be forthcoming by this boycott action as Red Stripe Beer one of the targets of the ban had refused to fund Jamaican dancehall artists and events that host them that promote violence of any sort, a decision they did not take lightly as they make millions from these same artists sponsorship and events.
Many artist though upset at the time of the decision literally changed their tunes.

A commendable move probably but were the organizers of the boycott aware of this and did JFLAG do enough to publicise this "achievement?"
I guess maybe everything can't be made public knowing our caustic environment here on homosexuality and the attendant issues.

The rest of the country in the meantime are up in arms about it, saying that foreigners are dictating how we should handle our affairs and that gays are imposing their "dirty lifestyle" on us according to one radio talkshow host.

The organizers mainly one Michael Petrelis says he did contact JFLAG before making the decision to proceed with the boycott according to his blog: http://mpetrelis.blogspot.com/ the "Rum Dump" as it is nicknamed was said to be a success in the two public events that took place

I don't think a boycott is the way to go at this time what other backative can the organizers give us here in Jamaica in case it goes out of control? and seeing our tense our political and social climate is right now anything is possible. People are angry at the political system, worried about bread and butter issues such as jobs and bills etc. To plant a lighted match in an oilfield is not a wise move.

The organizers in my view are too far removed from the reality to greatly grasp and appreciate how explosive this can get, with politicians as well looking for any item that can greatly accrue popularity unto themselves well this could be one of them as we have seen before, Prime Minister Golding's remarks both here and abroad.

Maybe we as in all the potential players ought to meet and carefully examine this issue while it is early days yet.

Just my two cents

Peace and tolerance

(views are not neccesarily those of SCJ and its team)

JFLAG's Press Release - No to Boycott in San Francisco 12.04.09

Please see letter sent to our international allies, friends and supporters below indicating that we do not support the boycott in San Francisco.

April 12, 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters:

We thank our international allies for their continued interest in the state of LGBT affairs in Jamaica. Your support over the years has strengthened our voice and made it possible for us to make progress where we hardly thought it possible. One of the most significant ventures in which our international allies have collaborated with us was the SMM campaign that started in 2004, and which culminated in a local debate about the appropriateness of violence and hate in Jamaican music played in public places. Despite the occasionally homophobic rant by rogue deejays, we have seen a general decline in the level of homophobia coming from new Jamaican artistes and in new music from Jamaica. We have also seen corporate sponsors withdrawing their support from music that promotes violence or discrimination against any group.

It is with this in mind that we find it unfortunate that a campaign has been launched calling for the boycott of two Jamaican products, one marketed by a company that unequivocally distanced itself from the hostility and violence typical of Jamaican music towards members of the LGBT community. In April 2008, Red Stripe took the brave and principled stance to cease sponsorship of music festivals that promoted hate and intolerance, including that against members of the LGBT community. The naming of Red Stripe, therefore, as a target of this boycott is extremely damaging to the cause of LGBT activists in Jamaica.

In the global arena in which we operate today, events in one place can and do have repercussions in another. Concomitantly, information about occurrences in different places across the globe is easily accessible everywhere. We believe that any overseas entity or organisation seeking to agitate for change in a context with which it has only passing familiarity should first do its homework to ensure that it does not do harm to its credibility and ultimately to the cause of the local community whose interest it seeks to defend.

It is unfortunate that the organisers of the current campaign to boycott Jamaica have failed in the key area of fact finding. The misguided targeting of Red Stripe does tremendous damage to a process of change that we began almost 11 years ago. The boycott call has now left us not only with our persistent day to day challenges but with a need to engage Red Stripe and attempt damage control as a result of actions that we did not take. Against this background, we would like to reiterate that while we appreciate the support given by our international allies, and understand their impatience for change, we who live in Jamaica best know and understand the dynamics of our situation. We also know that change is a slow and tedious process and those who engage in it must be patient.

Jamaica’s deeply ingrained antipathy towards homosexuality and homosexuals is a social phenomenon that will not be undone by boycott campaigns or government dictate. It requires the painstaking effort of confronting the society and talking to social actors who can bring change in the way society sees LGBT people. We have been doing this through a small but growing group of increasingly aware opinion leaders who are concerned about the damage homophobia does to our society. We need those ears to continue being open to us and we need the relative safety that some of us have been given to speak to them.

It is important that our international allies understand the nature of our struggle and engage us in a respectful way about it. Unless they are willing and able to lead the struggle in the trenches as we have done, it is important that they be guided by us. To do otherwise would be to act in a manner that destroys the space for dialogue that we have managed to create over the past decade and to set back our struggle. It is for this reason that we urge those in the international arena who seek to act in our name and on our behalf to do so not only with the utmost care and responsibility but also with due consideration for our efforts and concerns as members of the local activist community.

Sincerely,
Jason McFarlane
Programmes Manager
Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays - J-FLAG
Tel: (876)754-8704
Website: www.jflag.org
Blog: http://jflag.blogspot.com/
email: http://www.blogger.com/jflagoffice@gmail.com, admin@jflag.org

Canadian Boycott Called Off

The tourist boycott of Jamaica has been called off despite an official response from the island's government that barely mentions homosexuality.

Stop Murder Music Canada (SMMC), the group organizing the boycott, cancelled the action after receiving an official response from Anne-Marie Bonner, the Jamaican consul general.

The response refuses to specifically recognize gays and lesbians as a protected group in Jamaica's constitution and doesn't even mention repealing laws against homosexuality.

But Akim Larcher, the founder of SMMC, says the response was enough to call off the boycott. The response was dated May 15, three days after the deadline set by SMMC.

"The letter may not suffice in every respect but it is definitely a step forward that they see a responsibility to protect their citizens," says Larcher. "There are quite a number of positive things, especially around police and law enforcement."

SMMC — a coalition of groups including Egale Canada and the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto — had demanded that the Jamaican government immediately denounce homophobic violence in the country and begin work on repealing laws criminalizing homosexuality, including sexual orientation in the Charter of Rights and developing education campaigns for the country and for the police.

Bonner's response doesn't specifically address any of those demands, although it does address questions of police accountability and structural reform. She writes that she wants to "draw attention to some of the relevant actions being taken by the government of Jamaica:

"A bill for consideration by Parliament at this session to establish an independent authority to have statutory responsibility for investigating instances of abuse by members of the security forces;

"A bill to establish a special coroner to conduct speedy inquests in cases where a citizen dies at the hands of agents of the state...

"Budget provided for continuation of the Citizens Security and Justice Program (CSJP), which had a positive impact on community strengthening and crime reduction."

The Jamaican Ministry of National Security describes CSJP as a "national crime and violence prevention strategy."

Bonner writes that "The government is focused on the need to dramatically reduce the incidence of crime in the country, regardless of cause.... You would be aware of the public statement issued by the government on Apr 14, 2008 reiterating its strong condemnation of 'mob attacks and violence against any individuals or groups for any reason whatsoever,' whilst underscoring the obligations of the state, in particular the police in such cases.

"In the context of your specific concerns it is to be noted that the constitution and laws of Jamaica provide protection for the rights of all. There is not an intention to write into the constitution specific reference to any particular group, as all groups and individuals have equality under the law."

Larcher says he is not disappointed by the letter's failure to mention homosexuality.

"That was totally pretty much expected," he says.

Larcher admits that the defiant response of Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding also made SMMC think twice about a boycott, as has the possibility Golding may soon call a snap election.

On Apr 23 Golding told reporters asking him about a possible boycott that he had "seen nothing yet to convince" him to repeal Jamaica's antisodomy laws, saying, "There is a road down which I'm not going to allow this country to go under my leadership."

But Larcher says the boycott call has had positive effects.

"It has not left us where we were," he says. "It's forced the Jamaican government to face the issue head-on. It's put them on alert. In terms of the international support it has raised the level of support."

Larcher says SMMC will try to force the Canadian government to use its trade relationship with Jamaica to effect change.

"We will continue to raise the education level here in Canada," he says. "We will continue putting pressure on the government here to raise human rights and sexuality in the current situation in Jamaica."

Bonner's letter also makes reference to the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, Allsexuals and Gays (JFLAG) — the country's queer lobby group. It is, in fact, the only time the letter uses any words to do with homosexuality.

"You would, I am sure, be aware, that the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, Allsexuals and Gays does not support your strategy for a boycott of Jamaica's tourism and trade...." she writes. "It is to be assumed that, naturally, the views of the persons whose interests are ostensibly being promoted will be respected."

"We are continuing to have an ongoing dialogue with JFLAG," Larcher says. "We are going to try to provide more strategic support for them."

The program coordinator of JFLAG says the boycott proposal has led to additional homophobic violence.

"We've had about four cases [of attacks attributed to the boycott] which have come to us," says Jason MacFarlane. "Our perspective is still the same. A boycott is not helpful, especially since the prime minister has made a statement that he won't be going down that road."

Travel agents say that a tourist boycott was not likely to have a major impact anyway.

"I'm not sure if they're getting a lot of queer dollars so I'm not sure how much impact a boycott will have," says Deb Parent of Toronto's Conxity travel agency.

Parent also says a boycott might have hurt gay Jamaicans more than it helped them.

"There are many poor countries around the world where poor queers are part of that tourist economy," she says. "It might be better to actually make a point of going and hanging out with queers who are on the front line in a way that I, as a Canadian, am not."

John Tanzella, the president of the Florida-based International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, agrees a boycott would accomplish little.

"Zero," he says. "If anything it's going to hurt the gays and lesbians in Jamaica who are trying to survive on visits from gay and lesbian visitors. It wouldn't be proper for us to go against the wishes of the local gay organization. It would be kind of arrogant."

Brotha Hurt By Homophobic Violence (Boycott Related)

This brotha above was attacked by two machete wealing men on 27.04.08 going about his lawful business and was told by his attackers that because of the boycott that he and others like him had to suffer for it as gays were gonna cause Jamaica to suffer.

Profiling seems to be an added feature of attackers these days, as if men who look or dress a certain way that intimates "gay or homosexual" then they become the victim(s) of verbal and physical abuse.

Another male victim was given an ultimatum to leave his family home of 30 years in the form of a visit from the area "Don's" henchmen armed to the T with guns, fortunately he was away from home at the time and was able to temporarily relocate to a friend's place. He has since contacted JFLAG and they are in the process of helping him recoup.

Thank god his life was speared and he blessed his attackers even during and after the scuffle.

They escaped with 2 cel phones and a sum of money.

Please have us in your prayers as the struggle continues.

Thank you........SCJ

mailto:hsunshinecathedraljamaica@gmail.com

J-FLAG not supporting Canadian ultimatum

J-FLAG not supporting Canadian ultimatum
The Gleaner published: Tuesday April 8, 2008

Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter

The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is not supporting the ultimatum issued on the Government by a Canadian group demanding that the state produce public service announcements denouncing homophobic violence. However, Jason MacFarlane, programmes manager of J-FLAG, says his organisation wants to engage in talks with the Government on the issue of violence against homosexuals.Last week, the gay rights group Egale Canada, in an open letter to Anne-Marie Bonner, Jamaica's consul general for Toronto, said it would make a public announcement if the Jamaican Government did not meet its demand by May 17.The group also said it would make an international call for tourists from the gay community to stop visiting Jamaica. Against move However, MacFarlane is against such a move. "I know the call for the boycott is coming from people's frustration with the lack of response from the Government, but J-FLAG doesn't think that's the next best step. We should still be able to meet and discuss this diplomatically," he said.He says J-FLAG has made various attempts to initiate dialogue with Prime Minister Golding. However, his office has not responded to the requests.

"We want him to meet with us to discuss the current state of affairs and violence against persons because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, as we've had reports of heterosexuals being abused."MacFarlane also says J-FLAG wants the Government to outline how it will deal with issues relating to the human rights of lesbians and gays.In the latest incident involving alleged homosexuals on Saturday, hundreds of persons converged on a shopping plaza in Half- Way Tree, St Andrew, some wishing to attack two men who were said to have been caught in a compromising position.The men had to be rescued by the police. 

Condemned homophobic in Jamaica A 2007 Amnesty International document condemned homophobic violence in Jamaica and called for the Government to do more to prevent and prosecute those who incite violence on perceived homosexuals.In the meantime, MacFarlane says he is pleased with the response of the police to the issue of violence against homosexuals."We've had some positive response from the police. We met with the new commissioner (Hardley Lewin) recently and we have his full support. He agreed with many of the things we have put forward, such as the police response among other things," he said.Meanwhile, Dr Carolyn Gomes, executive director of human rights lobby group, Jamaicans For Justice says there is need for public education and leadership regarding the basic human rights of every Jamaican citizen."It is well documented, the horrors that the people accused of being homosexual have to go through," she said.

tendai.franklyn-brown@gleanerjm.com