This Saturday: Say NO to hate music at Reggae Carifest

There is a heartbreaking article in this month's POZ Magazine about Jamaica, homophobia and HIV care that is a must read ("Jamaica: Trouble in Paradise"). I can't say that I am shocked since it's been going on for quite a while but it does give you a good perspective of what some gay and HIV positive people have to go through in the Caribbean island. I imagine that the damage caused to the island by Hurricane Dean will also sap some needed resources for the immediate future which might make the situation even worse.

I bring this up because this Saturday a number of organizations and anti-homophobia advocates are staging a protest at Randall's Island where some of the most homophobic Jamaican dancehall reggae singers will be performing at Reggae Carifest.

They include Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man. Full details below as well as additional information about another two events being targeted on later dates.

Interestingly, some of us have been here before. In September of 2004 I was amongst the picketers outside a Hot97-sponsored concert at the Hammerstein Ballroom featuring Beenie Man, Vybz Kartel, T.O.K. and Elephant Man. And, most recently, in July of 2006 this blogger joined other bloggers in denouncing the HIV/AIDS charity organization LifeBEAT for inviting Beenie Man and T.O.K. to perform at an AIDS fundraiser.

In the UK, activist Peter Tatchell and Outrage! have led a recent campaign called "The Reggae Compassionate Act" asking dancehall reggae performers to sign a statement renouncing to past homophobic statements and agreeing not to include homophobic lyrics in their future music.

Some leading performers, including the above mentioned Beenie Man, Sizzla, Capleton and Buju Banton have signed on although both Buju Banton and Beenie Man have subsequently denied signing the statements to Jamaican press.

As for LifeBEAT you would think that they would know better considering that in 2006 they decided to scratch the concert due to the rising criticism of hiring two virulently anti-gay performers for a concert. And, sure! None of the performers appearing at Saturday's concert showed up at the Reggae Carifest kick-off event last week but it certainly was promoting the concert and it seems that LifeBEAT was there as well.

Additional resources:

• Mudrer Inna Dancehall
• Peter Tatchell / Outrage! (UK)
• Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays/J-FLAG (Jamaica)
• Human Rights Watch: Jamaica

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SAY NO TO HATE MUSIC

We demand an end to music and speech that advocates hate or violence against any group, including gays and lesbians, women, or people of color.

We take a stand against hate speech in any form of music: hip hop, rock, metal or Jamaican reggae/dancehall.

We call on all reggae artists to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act, a simple statement that there is "no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia."

At least 4 of the over 30 artists scheduled to perform in NYC in August (Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man) have refused to sign the RCA and some have stated they will never do so. We commend the two performers, Sizzla and Capleton, who have signed the RCA.

We call on the concert promoters - Clear Channel (LiveNation), Team Legendary, HOT 97, Team Irie Jamboree - to stop giving these performers a platform to spread their message of hate, and to drop them from the concert lineups.

Join us to continue this campaign to end hate music in all its forms around the world - we will not be silent!

Anti-Violence Project, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay Men of African Descent, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation, People of Color in Crisis, Queer Justice League

Protest/Speakout: Reggae CariFest, Randall's Island, Sat. Aug. 25th, 5 pm (meet at GMAD, 103 E. 125, #503, at 3:30 pm)

On Da Reggae Tip, Hammerstein Ballroom, 311 West 34th St., NYC, Fri., Aug. 31st, 7 pm

Irie Jamboree, Roy Wilkins Park, Queens, Sun. Sep. 2, 5 pm

Planning meetings: Thursdays at 8 pm, Think Coffeehouse, 248 Mercer St. (between 3rd and 4th Sts.), NYC

For more info: www.gmad.org

Scratch that: LifeBEAT releases new statement

Following this morning's press conference by black and Caribbean gay activists outside the corporate offices of LifeBEAT and some somewhat conciliatory comments from LIFEbeat's leadership given last night to a reporter from the AP, the AIDS-focused music industry foundation has removed their initial press statement from the front of their website and announced a "Forum for [the] Caribbean American Community."

Quoting LIFEbeat Executive Director John Cannelli from the press statement released today:

In our desire to do something positive within the Caribbean American community, we didn’t realize the depth of the hurt in the GLBT community around the lyrics of these artists. Once we saw how deep and real it is, it became very clear that canceling the concert was the right thing to do. We want to extend a heartfelt apology to those we offended and thank the individuals who raised their voices and helped us to see a more effective way to realize our mission. We also want to clarify the concerns of violence we felt. Those concerns didn’t stem from any threats from activists or members of the Caribbean American community. They stemmed from threatening phone calls our office received from random individuals that led to concerns for the safety of our staff and others.

We’re not giving up and are continuing our commitment to this community. The issues of homophobia, sexism, racism and poverty, key factors in the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS, need to be addressed openly. In looking at the bigger picture with the lessons we’ve learned, this concert wasn’t the right forum for this important topic. Over the next few weeks, we will be reaching out to key members of the Caribbean American community and to AIDS organizations to join together in creating an appropriate forum, where our individual strengths as activists and the power of coming together under one important cause can make a real difference in this community.

We say, thanks LIFEbeat! You finally got it right!

As for that LIFEbeat Larry Levan memorial event? Groovy!

Further commentary:

• Rod2.0 here
• A timeline from Frank Leon Roberts here
• An About.com column here
• A statement from Emanuel Xavier here
• More photos of the morning's press conference and commentary from J's Theatre here
• Kenyon Farrow has a breakdown of this morning's speakers here
  
• Additional stuff from Keith Boykin here and Jasmyne Cannick here
• Bernard is promising an update later today
  

Articles

• A new AP article which includes mention of today's developments here

Photos: Press conference outside LIFEbeat's offices this morning

Some of the speakers and participants at this morning's press conference calling on LIFEbeat to own up to their mistake in hiring Beenie Man and T.O.K. for a benefit concert without taking into consideration their rabid homophobia. The concert was cancelled yesterday but, in a press statement, LIFEbeat opted not to take responsibility for their actions and blame black gay bloggers instead.

From top to bottom: Caribbean gay activist Colin Robinson; Blogger and New York State Black Gay Network Communications and Public Education Coordinator Kenyon Farrow and blogger and author Keith Boykin; Jamaican-born lesbian poet and performer StaceyAnn Chinn; Farrow and Bishop Zachary Jones of the Unity Fellowship Church.

Other speakers and participants included Tokes Osubu, Executive Director of Gay Men of African Descent; Joey B. Pressley, Executive Director of the New York State AIDS Coalition; blogger Bernard Tarver; blogger John K., blogger and photographer Donald Agarrat, blogger Andre Lancaster and Clarence Patton, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project.

Additional photos here

In addition, the New York City Anti-Violence Project has just sent out this press release:

M E D I A R E L E A S E

For Immediate Release

Contact: Clarence Patton

July 13, 2006

Anti-Violence Project Applauds Cancellation of Concert Trading AIDS for Violence

Says Work Still to be Done "Educating" and Creating "Dialogue" with LifeBeat

New York – Clarence Patton, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project's Executive Director issued the following statement after learning that a concert with planned performances by Dancehall artists Beenie Man and TOK, who have incited violence against gays and lesbians in their lyrics, had been cancelled. The event was to benefit LifeBeat, the music industry's leading AIDS charity:

"We were greatly dismayed that LifeBeat, which has such a powerful mission, initially elected to include in its lineup artists that actively and generally without apology or a stated intent to change their messaging advocate violence against lesbians and gay men. At the Anti-Violence Project, we have long seen the way in which the AIDS pandemic has been used in the US and around the world as further justification of violence against our community.

Additionally, assertions made by at least one LifeBeat representative that 'almost everyone in that segment of the industry is homophobic, so it would be difficult to find someone who isn't,' were incorrect and ultimately insubstantial. Even if that statement were true, there remains a distinct difference between a generalized distaste for a community - homophobia in this case - and actively encouraging the violent beating and immolation of its members as Beenie Man and TOK have.

Just this week, the bodies of two murdered lesbians were found in a roadside pit in Jamaica. Here in New York City, the LGTB community spent much of June - Pride Month - mobilizing in response to a number of incidents which left victims hospitalized and neighborhoods on-edge. This is clearly not the time to turn a blind eye to rabid homophobia.

And while we're pleased that LifeBeat, following the lead of a number of other organizations and venues around the world in recent years, made the choice to re-think its decision to provide a forum for those who have actively called for violence against a population so impacted by the AIDS pandemic, it is clear that there remains a tremendous amount of work to be done between LifeBeat, and LGTB and anti-violence organizations.

We find LifeBeat's concern about possible "violence" from those unhappy with scheduled performers baffling given that the focus of the scores of calls and e-mails received by our organization in the last several days focused on opposition to and concern about the violence espoused by performers scheduled to be at LifeBeat's own event.

Nevertheless, we see this entire episode as an opportunity to do just what LifeBeat indicated in its earliest responses to the community uproar over their concert plans: educate and create dialogue. This is now the time for LifeBeat to build stronger connections with the LGTB community to ensure that the tacit or active endorsement of violence against LGTB people is not given for the sake of AIDS awareness."

Update: LIFEbeat "misjudged hurt," will "reach out to groups"

Another round of negative responses to the non-apologetic cancellation of the LIFEbeat reggae concert earlier today must have done wonders to at least make their Executive Director and at least one Board Member decide to change their tune and be more apologetic.

Executive Director John Canelli does say that the group received "threatening phone calls" but also tells the AP tonight that LIFEbeat will be "reaching out to different groups to see what could be done to accomplish the concert's goal of raising awareness without the accompanying controversy."

Board Member Tim Rosta also told the AP: "I think we misjudged the depth of the hurt around some of the issues that are raised by some of the lyrics."

• Gay City News has an Andy Humm update here
• Sean Strub, publisher of POZ Magazine, has commentary here

LIFEbeat cancels reggae concert, insults black gay bloggers in the process

Back in 1998, back when e-mail messages were still read and not immediately sent to the trash can, I remember the elation following the massive show for the 5th Avenue vigil in the wake of the murder of Matthew Sheppard in Wyoming. Some credited the phenomenon to "massive forwarding" by grassroots activists and, even if I did say that e-mail was "the greatest invention since water" back then (see previous link), I'm not sure it could be replicated nowadays.

Enter bloggers.

In the course of 48 hours a grassroots campaign began by Keith Boykin through his blog to call attention to the mind-boggling decision by non-profit music industry foundation LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS to include virulent homophobic performers Beenie Man and T.O.K. in a concert to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean, has resulted in the cancellation of said concert earlier this afternoon.

In their statement, LIFEbeat does not acknowledge just how wrong-headed they were in hiring these two particular performers for the show and instead imply that not canceling the show might have led to violence in the streets: "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."

Disingenuously they do not mention the letters and calls they have been getting not only from bloggers but from people from all sorts of walks who are just as mystified as those of us who might have called attention to their unfortunate choice, including a group of Caribbean community leaders who sent the following letter to LIFEbeat Executive Director John Canelli:

John Canelli
Executive Director
LIFEbeat

Mr. Canelli

LIFEbeat’s deliberate decision to have Jamaican artists Beenie Man and TOK headline your July 18 “Hearts & Voices” benefit concert has already provoked the outrage of many. As you are well aware, these are two of the most protested Caribbean artists as a result of virulently homophobic lyrics in their recent music that calls for the mutilation, murder or genocide of Gay and Lesbian people. Homophobia causes AIDS, and LIFEbeat’s decision to showcase these artists undermines Caribbean HIV prevention efforts. The offensiveness and disregard of this action towards a Caribbean community whose vulnerability and stigmatization are at the core of its risk for HIV, and the bad faith it creates for LIFEbeat and its work, undermine any possible benefit inclusion of those artists might have.

Your response to the harm your action does Caribbean GLBT communities, who are disproportionately affected by HIV, needs to go significantly beyond current calls for cancellation of these two acts. As Caribbean community leaders and activists diverse in race, gender and sexual orientation, we have come together to insist that LIFEbeat organize a new concert targeting our communities, this one with a distinctly GLBT-affirming message and artists. This would be consistent with your mission to use the power of music in the healing work of fighting HIV. We are also demanding that you apply the proceeds of such an event towards the fight against homophobia in Jamaica, by contributing them to the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, AllSexuals & Gays (J-FLAG).

We strongly believe these are minimal measures and first steps LIFEbeat must take to undo the damage you have done to HIV prevention for one of the most vulnerable Caribbean populations. We will continue to mobilize Caribbean stakeholders around this effort and to collaborate with you in accomplishing these goals.

Other bloggers already have written about LIFEbeat's decision to cancel the concert and make some additional points. Check these entries from Keith Boykin and Bernard Tarver.

We are left wondering how this could have happened in the first place. How big is the disconnect between some of these AIDS foundations and the LGBT community, particularly those of us who are queer people of color and decide to speak up (instead of playing to the stereotype that we are all in the closet and can't speak for ourselves to challenge their actions when they are an affront to our dignity).

We are left wondering if LIFEbeat will eventually take a look at itself instead of throwing stones at others and do right by the Caribbean communities afflicted by HIV/AIDS, INCLUDING Caribbean-based LGBT individuals.

We are left wondering if radio stations, fans of Beenie Man and T.O.K., record houses and the artists themselves will ever get it: The atmosphere of homophobia that they help to create and promote is killing their own countrymen.

In the meantime, there will be a press conference tomorrow as well (click here for details).

As for those pesky bloggers? Maybe blogging IS "the greatest invention since water?"

PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact:
Jasmyne Cannick, jcannick@sbcglobal.net
Colin Robinson, 917-482-9014
Keith Boykin, keithboykin1@aol.com

Black Gay Bloggers Win Victory; LIFEbeat Cancels Anti-Gay AIDS Concert

Los Angeles/New York (July 12, 2006) –Black lesbian and gay bloggers are declaring a small victory in the fight against homophobia today.

After a 48 hour protest against LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS organization, and its decision to use homophobic reggae artists Beenie Man and TOK, LIFEbeat today released a statement that it is canceling its concert. LIFEbeat cited “the possibility of violence” as the reason for canceling the concert and not the use of anti-gay reggae artists.

“While we are extremely pleased that our efforts paid off, we want to make it perfectly clear to LIFEbeat and others, that no threats of violence were ever made against LIFEbeat’s staff and board of directors, nor the concert,” commented Jasmyne Cannick, activist and blogger. “Our campaign was simply to educate LIFEbeat about the history of the performers that they choose and to make them aware of the recent murders of gay people in the Caribbean. We did this through emails, blogging, phone calls, and faxes from all over the world.”

Author Keith Boykin added, “LIFEbeat still fails to address the issue of homophobia and its connection to the spread of HIV/AIDS.” He continues, “While we support the mission of LIFEbeat to educate our youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, we cannot support the use of blatantly homophobic recording artists to achieve that mission.”

“LIFEbeat has basically chosen to cop-out and blame us for their ill-considered decision to use these artists in the first place,” commented D.C. blogger Terrence Heath.

The concert was scheduled to take place at New York’s Webster Hall on July 18. Activists are now calling on LIFEbeat to move on with a new concert using gay-friendly artists and to donate the proceeds 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.

"This would be the first time a protest of these artists raised money for us," said Karlene, co-chair of J-FLAG. “The international protests have helped build awareness and accountability back here. Artists who perform homophobic or hate songs must be sent a strong message that their acts are inhumane and will not be tolerated. But it’s even better when this can result in support for our difficult and under-financed work to counter this hatred where these musicians live.”

A complete list of the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender bloggers who participated in the campaign against LIFEbeat appears below.

Bejata link
Keith Boykin link
Republic of T link
Pandagon link
Clay Cane link
Jasmyne Cannick link
Journey Into Light link
Frank Leon Roberts link
A Burst of Light link
Blabbeando link
J's Theater link
FemmeNoir link
AnziDesign link
PlanetOut's Politics and News link
GreasyGuide link
Troy Notorious link
thebrotherlove.com link
Woubi-Yossi Collective link
Just My Thoughts link
Obsidianbear link
The 7 Magazine link
The Larry Lyons Experience link
Simply Fred Smith link
Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep link
Novaslim link
Front Porch Storytellin link
Taylor Siluwé link
Bialogue link

LIFEbeat: Reggae fag-baiters used just to "reach out"

It seems as if it was just yesterday that we were at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom protesting a Hot 97 concert for featuring some rabidly anti-gay reggae singers (see right).

But it's one thing for a commercial radio station to look for the quick-buck-'fuck-morals'-kinda-shit, and QUITE another for a well-regarded AIDS foundation such as LIFEbeat to disregard fag-baiting and virulent homophobia to "reach out" to communities and draw a pretty penny for a fundraiser.

Unfortunately that is EXACTLY what is taking place as you'll see:

• Keith Boykin: "Stop LIFEbeat's anti-gay concert"
• Bejata: "A contradiction in terms"
• Republic of T: "LIFEbeat's anti-gay death concert"
• Journey Into Light: "LIFEbeat invites homophobes Beenie Man and TOK"

Let's see if ANY HIV/AIDS organization goes on record repudiating LIFEbeat's move. For now, go to the above links and respond to LIFEbeat!