We Are Jamaicans: A campaign against homophobia by Jamaicans for Jamaicans

I am probably jumping the gun here but I just stumbled onto this beautiful new campaign against homophobia in Jamaica.  I spotted it through a tweet sent by the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) this morning.  There is no link to a project page, just a description of the project on their YouTube site:

We Are Jamaicans is a campaign for Jamaicans, whether gay or straight, to share their experiences and perspectives about LGBT human rights. This in an effort to promote greater understanding and help change minds and hearts of Jamaicans about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We Are Jamaicans is funded with the kind support of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) through its Global Fund Vulnerablised Project. The videos were recorded and edited by Maya Wilkinson.

There are five videos in the series so far. In the first one J-FLAG's own Director Dane Lewis says "I want to just be free to be me"...

In the second one Alexis Goffe says he was constantly harassed as being gay during high-school even though he wasn't and explains the reasons why now as an adult he has decided to stand up and speak out against LGBT discrimination. "Now, if you call me gay I'll feel honored," he says, "I've come out of the closet as an ally of the LGBTQ community"...

In a third video Susan Goffe speaks of her role as a teacher and a parent. "I want Jamaica to be a safe place for all our children" she says...

In the fourth video Javed Jaghai holds index cards to drive home his message...

The final video is similar from someone who has decided to remain anonymous...

Obviously the campaign has just been launched. I will update this post when there is more information about it. But I am truly moved and hope that this opens up a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ Jamaicans.

An aside: The background music is Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Same Love" featuring Mary Lambert.

UPDATE: Here is the official press release from J-FLAG...

J-FLAG Boss Headlines New Human Rights Video Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Dane Lewis, the executive director of J-FLAG, Jamaica’s foremost gay rights advocacy organisation, is headlining a new a human rights video campaign featuring straight, gay and lesbian Jamaicans.

The campaign, which is called We Are Jamaicans was launched today to raise awareness among Jamaicans about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) identity and community, human rights, stigma and discrimination. We Are Jamaicans is a participatory video campaign hosted on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/EqualityJA. It features prominent Jamaicans such as Susan and Alexis Goffe and Javed Jaghai.

According to Lewis, “the campaign was developed following recommendations from consultations with LGBT persons, activists and allies to show the experiences of Jamaica’s LGBT community in a more diverse way.”

There is an urgent need to interrupt prevailing discourse on LGBT realities in Jamaica. Opportunities must be created for Jamaicans to see and hear about the experiences of LGBT people so they can understand what it means to be LGBT.

“Regrettably, the diversity and the complexity of Jamaica’s LGBT community is masked by media and advocacy narratives that too often focus on sex, victimhood, crime and HIV. These themes are not identity-affirming and they sometimes further entrench the marginal position of LGBT people in the society,” Lewis said.

Javed Jaghai, an openly gay Jamaican, says that ignorance helps to fuel homophobia and the campaign will be critical for increasing understanding among the Jamaican public about gender and sexuality variance. “By diversifying the stories told about LGBT lives, the complexity of LGBT identities will be made apparent and it will be easier to evoke empathy and secure general support for tolerance,” he highlighted.

The Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC) through its Global Fund Vulnerablised Project funds the campaign. It is expected to lead to greater understanding and help change minds and hearts about Jamaica’s LGBT community. Gay, lesbian and straight Jamaicans are encouraged to use creative ways of sharing their experiences with LGBT issues and join the campaign whether they wish to show their face or not.

Contact: Dane Lewis | Executive Director

P.O. Box 1152, Kingston 8 T: 978-8988 | M: 875 2328 | F: 946-3244

W: www.jflag.org | E: admin@jflag.org | T: @equalityJA

Reaction:

• Campaign against Jamaican homophobia (Joe.My.God.)
• Prominent Jamaicans speak against homophobia (Towleroad)
• 'We Are Jamaicans' video campaign against anti-gay discrimination launches (The Huffington Post Gay Voices)
• We Are All Jamaicans (Bilerico)
• Morning Meme (AfterElton)

Updates: Sentences in Sandy murder, Cuban LGBT org defines purpose, political asylum news

Sentencing reached in murder of gay black man: In a case that we have followed in the past, three men have received sentences for their involvement in the death of Michael J. Sandy, a young man who was lured to an empty parking lot near a secluded Brooklyn beach and was killed when he tried to escape his attackers.

The New York Times says that the comlpex divergence in sentencing reflected "a confounding set of circumstances" while Gay City News points out that the ringleader could get out of jail in "as little as six years." A fourth man was previously sentenced last year when he pleaded guilty and agreed to testify for the prosecution.

Nascent Cuban LGBT rights organization defines its purpose: In October we wrote of the birth of a gay rights organization in Cuba. Today, Bitacora Cubana says that the Cuban Movement for Homosexual Liberation met on Saturday to define its purpose and agreed to demand "legalization for sex-change surgeries and [the right] to change names; the court's recognition of same-sex couples; adoption rights and the recognition of matrimony and inheritance rights for LGBT individuals."

Political asylum: In political asylum news Arthur S. Leonard tells us of a brand new case in which a gay man who was born in Portugal but lived most of his life in Venezuela was denied asylum in the United States in a decision released by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals on November 6th.

A key reason for the denial? The fact that the asylum seeker had entered the United States on various occasions and had returned to Venezuela without apparent fear of persecution - until he filed for asylum.

In the meantime Ven Messam (pictured above in a Wockner News Photo), a Jamaican gay man, was recently granted asylum thanks to the work of Columbia University's Law School students whose department provides pro-bono assistance as a way to provide hands-on experience for students. Lucky are those asylum applicants that receive such assistance.

A Jamaican lesbian was not as fortunate when she sought political asylum in the United Kingdom. The court's response? "Try not to act gay."

Tomorrow on Oprah: Gays Around the World

It's rare for a highly-rated national television show in the United States to turn its attention to the situation for gays and lesbians throughout the world so when word spread that talk show host Oprah had invited Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil from India as one of the guests for a show on the topic, I wondered who else would be invited and which issues would be addressed (I also wondered if this Joe.My.Blog post had anything to do with this particular show but that just means I read too many blogs).

Well, the show has been taped and will air tomorrow (check local listings).

The webpage for "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has this teaser: "One guest was arrested and spent a year in jail. Another says she was so fearful, she moved to a different country. And, a prince's secret was so taboo, it ripped his royal family apart. A look at what it is like to be gay around the world."

A preview available for viewing here reveals that - in addition to the interview with Prince Singh Gohil - she will also interview former NBA player John Amaechi (he was born in the US to a Nigerian father and English mother and raised in the UK), an Egyptian gay man and the great Staceyann Chin (originally from Jamaica, now living in the United States, pictured above).

The tag line in the preview asks: "What if the freedom to be yourself came down to where you lived?" so I assume the focus of the hour will be on international human rights violations against gays and lesbians around the world.

If that's the case, while it's great for Oprah to cover these issues, I would be disappointed since it is only half the story as there have also been tremendous advances in the LGBT rights movement in other parts of the world and, particularly, Latin America.

International edition of Newsweek tackles the gays

The international edition of Newsweek has a cover story featuring two men holding hands and the title of "Sex and the Macho Man."

I'm not sure it matches the content very well but it does have a few interesting stories:

• "Legal in unlikely places" takes a look at advances in LGBT rights in countries such as Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, Cuba and Colombia where the average person might think machismo might prevail over gay rights.
• "Land of reggae and homophobia" takes a look at Jamaica and the ongoing issues with homophobia.
• In "I have not been accepted by my family" 30 year old Devon talks about life in Jamaica as a gay man.
• In "The sky didn't fall in" there is also a brief interview with British actor Ian McKellen on gay rights in the UK and activism.

There is also a photo gallery.

Go read, if you are so inclined.

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

---
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

Jamaica: What does it take...

Above: Video originally posted on YouTube and then banned, re-posted on JumpCut thanks to Terrance Heath.

The homophobic drumbeat continues to flow from Jamaica. If you were reading some of the articles that appeared in Jamaican media last week you might have seen the following:

An April 22nd Jamaica Gleaner editorial column writer quoting a nameless Rastafarian leader he calls Soul Rebel defending reggae singers who have been targeted for their homophobia and sharing, among other things, this reasoning for Jamaican's hate of gays:

Listen man. They have sought with some measure of success to equate the civil rights and liberation movements for responsible freedom with their 'freedom', their devilish desire to 'make close contact with human waste matter'. And therein lies the real rub and nub of the matter, for it is this aspect of the practice that makes your average Jamaican see red.

An April 25th Jamaica Gleaner article in which Jamaica's public defender (!!) is said to have asked gays in the island to abstain from "flaunting sexual preference may incite violence" arguing that it "may provoke a violent breach of the peace." "Tolerance has its limits," he added.

So, considering the abysmal recent record on human rights abuses and crimes against the LGBT community in the Caribbean island, is it really any surprise that reports surfaced on Friday about yet one more mob attack against a transgender woman in Falmouth? (and no, it's not the same as the mob attack that took place on February 14th in Montego Bay).

This time, though, the attack was captured on camera and, not surprisingly, posted on YouTube.

That hasn't stopped editorial writers from saying that Jamaica's "moral values" are under attack by international pro-gay political and economic forces as Newton Gabbidon wrote in yesterday's Jamaica Gleaner, two days after the attack . At least some churches seem to be coming around on the issue of violence against gays and HIV positive people.

Indeed, international human rights agencies and some within Jamaica have been calling for a government and public response against crimes such as these. And both local and international activism around these crimes has certainly forced the nation to have an unprecedented dialogue on issues related to LGBT rights and homophobia (hence this and this). These are seeds for change that should be nurtured and I hope that they do not get lost in the reaction to the latest developments.

Today, a few of us were made aware that the YouTube video had been uploaded, giving graphic proof of the violence that is taking place in the island. Among those who have blogged about it are Terrance Heath (cross-listed at Pam's Houseblend), j.brotherlove, J's Theatre, Emanuel Xavier, Taylor Siluwé, Keith Boykin, Jamyne Cannick and Kenyon Farrow.

And tonight I can say with certainty that enough is enough: What does it take for the Jamaican government to stand up for its own people instead of leaving it up to others to call for an immediate end to the spilling of Jamaican LGBT blood on Jamaican soil?

Let's hope that this will be the catalyst that will truly turn things around in Jamaica. I will keep you posted on reactions and hopefully it will lead to action. It would be a shame if this becomes just one in a very long list of incidents instead of the final straw that broke the camel's back.

UPDATE:

• Editorial by the Jamaica Gleaner (May 1, 2007)

ITN: Good news in Mexico, Puerto Rico civil code, Jamaican prison for TG youth

Coahuila says yes to same-sex partners: Yesterday, Coahuila became the second Mexican state to recognize the rights of same-sex partners following Mexico City, which approved a more limited bill back in November.

Mexican organizations react to anti-gay comments by new Health Minister: In the meantime news agency NotieSe reports today that some organizations reacted strongly to comments made by the new Health Minister José Ángel Córdova Villalobos in an interview published yesterday in Exelsior.

Representatives from Catholic Women for the Right to Choose, Group of Information on Elective Reproduction (GIRE), and Integral Health for Women (Sipam) reacted to Villalobo's comments regarding reproductive health while the National Counsel for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS (Conasida) and the National Front of People Affected by HIV/AIDS pointed out that HIV prevention should be based on science and not on "personal, moral or religious beliefs."

Homosexual Group, Action and Information (GHAI) called the declarations "surprising" and "irresponsible."

Friends Against AIDS questioned the Minister's comments that some radio spots "promoted homosexuality" and noted that sexual identity, whether gay or straight, cannot be "promoted" as there is no way to change a person's sexual orientation.

In the meantime an opinion columnist in the paper where the outrageous comments were published, Exelsior, also reacted angrily. Yuriria Sierra says:

...the state oversees the area of public health and that is your responsibility, Minister. To decide how each and every Mexican should express their sexuality is not under your perview. And society should not care whether you think that other people's love or pleasures are dangerous: What is dangerous is that the Ministry under your charge might not comply with what is truly your responsibility. We will take care of our beds: You should take care of our health.

Puerto Rico exclusive not so exclusive anymore: In the meantime, the exclusive we gave you on Wednesday (in collaboration with PRparaTODOS), is not so exclusive anymore as the major Puerto Rican papers revealed today what we already knew:

A draft of family regulations within a new Puerto Rican civil code not only would create civil union regulations in the Caribbean island but extend civil union rights to same-sex partners in a version that was shown to legislators this morning.

We have it on good authority that there will be surprises ahead that might increase the chances of the code being adopted by the legislature and that might benefit more than just same-sex couples.

Trans youth in Jamaican prison: Jamaican prison authorities say that they mistakenly placed a juvenile trans woman in a woman's prison after the arresting officer failed to realize that the person was transgender, according to the Jamaica Observer. Perhaps it might have been a safer choice for the teen, unfortunately she has been moved to "another correctional institution."

In the news: LGBT political asylum news, homophobic violence in Peru

Not sure if this will be a recurring feature here at Blabbeando but here's some news stories that caught my attention recently:

Deportation woes: Today, The Washington Post reports on immigrants in deportation proceedings who reach immigration court without access to legal representation which, some advocates claim, leads to hundreds of unfair deportations on an annual basis.

No political asylum for Jamaican lesbian: In this week's Gay City News, Arthur Leonard continues his exemplary ongoing look at LGBT asylum cases and discusses a decision by the federal appeals court in Philadelphia upholding a lower court's decision not to grant political asylum to a Jamaican lesbian woman. Mr. Leonard's blog can be found in my personal links column.

Transgender Mexican woman might get political asylum: In the meantime, on Thursday, Metropolitan News reported that the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Board of Immigration Appeals to reconsider an asylum claim filed by a Mexican-born transgender woman deeming that the Board of Immigration Appeals failed to take into consideration key testimony in their decision not to grant the woman asylum.

Police in Peru accused of systematic attacks on the LGBT community: Finally, the UK's Pink News picks up on an EFE newswire article on a report released by the Lima Homosexual Movement (MOHL) over the weekend in which the organization claims to have documented over 600 homophobic attacks throughout the South American nation during 2006 and in which they accuse police officers of "carrying out systematic attacks on gay people in the country."

More information on the report can be found in this Spanish-language article distributed by the Andina newswire.

Thank you, Tanya

Thank you Tanya, you've made my day:

Date: October 31, 2006
From: Tanya Stephens

Someone came across your blog about my album 'Rebelution' and told me to check it out. I must say many thanks for recognizing what i'm talking about. It's very frustrating to be caught in the middle of such a ridiculous feud as is going on between Reggae/Dancehall and the gay community. Just as you must know that every gay person can't possibly represent you correctly, so every Jamaican artiste cant represent me correctly either! Good luck on your struggles, and thanks for your good wishes to me on mine :-)

If you ever feel like exchanging thoughts hit me up, I really love a good enlightening conversation! :-)

From your new 'friend' (even if unwanted:-) )

Tanya Stephens

More Tanya:

• Tanya Stephens' AMAZING song, ""Do You Still Care (Acoustic Version)" here
• Tanya Stephens' MySpace Page here
• Please support Tanya Stephens and buy "Rebelution" here
• Videos for "Warn Dem," "These Streets" and "Cherry Brandy (Accoustic)"
  

Previously:

• Jamaican performers and homophobia in dancehall reggae (Oct. 24, 2006)
• Tanya Stephen's "Rebelution:" Best CD of the Year (Sept. 26, 2006)
• Riddim Magazine: Homophobia in dancehall music (July 22, 2006)

Jamaican performers and homophobia in dancehall reggae

An interesting article in Sunday's Jamaica Gleaner gives some perspective on the impact of international protests against homophobic dancehall reggae singers such as Beenie Man, Buju Banton, T.O.K., Bounty Killer and Elephant Man.

Apparently performers of other types of reggae seem to be making a conscious decision to distance themselves from dancehall out of fear of being boycotted, if not necessarily as a stand against homophobia.

In "Gay gap in J'can music," renown roots reggae performer Freddie McGregor argues that reggae genres should not be confused and that if homophobia is endemic in dancehall reggae, the same cannot be said of other reggae genres:

If you notice we are not involved in the broil weh a gwaan wid di gay people, so why dem a put di two music together if the genres are different? Relating that to reggae on a whole, goin' put a bad outlook on the music. I think it should a relate to the particular artiste involved, because not all dancehall artistes are involved. Is like a deliberate effort to smear the reputation of reggae. The dancehall genre has become a standard part of the thing, but what I notice is that every time a situation goes wrong that artiste is referred to as a dancehall and reggae artiste... This affects the whole thing greatly, because dem draw reggae into it and persons don't separate the two genres. So the emphasis should be placed on the individual or individuals, because it can hurt the entire music.

He goes on to say that even those dancehall performers who have been accused of being homophobic have shown in the past that they are creative enough to be successful without adressing the gay issue in their lyrics and should just avoid singing about gays but, interestingly, he also says "I am not a supporter of being gay, the world over knows that, but I do music about love and peace."

The same can be said of singer Ken Boothe who says "I'm not for it" (meaning homosexuality) but also says "If somebody love my music an dem gay, what must I do, deny them my music? No, I don't business wid dat, mi wouldn't mek dat bother me, me nah mek dem ting deh stop my music."

McGregor and Boothe, along with a third roots reggae performer, Bob Andy, say that dancehall reggae performers have indeed received the brunt of the international criticism but all share concerns that people outside Jamaica do not differenciate reggae from "dancehall" reggae and that ultimately the protests and boycotts might greatly affect all reggae performers.

It is obvious that the protests are having a deep impact in reggae culture in Jamaica and that performers within the island are, as a result, also putting pressure on homophobic dancehall singers to mute their views on gays, but it seems that change is happening mostly because of the threat of economic sanctions rather than a change in attitudes towards gays.

Interestingly, these interviews also expose the ongoing perception that homosexuality is a foreign entity and at no time do these singers address the gay community in Jamaica or the violence they endure at home.

It's good that international protests seem to have been effective in curtailing homophobic expression in dancehall reggae but that is akin to putting a band-aid on a wound. Until there are more performers such as Tanya Stephens who are willling to confront homophobia for what it is in order to root it out from Jamaican culture, these are just baby steps.

Doug Ireland interviews J-FLAG leader on homophobic violence in Jamaica

Over on his blog, Gay City News reporter Doug Ireland has posted an interview he did with "Gareth William", the Director of Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG), which he submitted for tomorrow's GCN edition. "Williams" (a pseudonym) speaks about a number of homophobic murders that have taken place in the island, including that of his good friend Steve Harvey and that of the former J-FLAG leader, Brian Williamson.

Must read: Keith Boykin's interview with Staceyann Chin

For anyone who followed the protests against LIFEbeat this summer for hiring a couple of homophobic dancehall reggae singers to perform at an HIV/AIDS fundraiser (or who has followed efforts to counter homophobic violence in Jamaica and the Caribbean as well as the ongoing protests at US tour stops by some of these same artists), you should immediately head over and read an interview posted today on Keith Boykin's blog with poet, artist, actor and activist Staceyann Chin (pictured above along with Colin Robinson and Joey Pressley at a press conference on July 13th outside the LIFEbeat offices).

It's as illuminating a piece on the issue of homophobia in Jamaica, the Caribbean and dancehall reggae I have read in a long time and touches on the complexity of having non-Caribbean individuals respond to these issues, on engaging a Caribbean-based response, on not only holding the performers accountable but also the record companies, and on whether singers such as Buju Banton or Beenie Man are truly bad persons.

Tanya Stephens' Rebelution: Best CD of the year?

Over on her blog, Jasmyne Cannick has been following ongoing protests against homophobic dancehall reggae singers currently touring the United States. Most recently we reported on efforts by Chicago's Gay Liberation Network to shut down a performance by Buju Banton in Chicago which followed our coverage of this summer's protest against LIFEbeat for hiring some of the same singers for a NYC concert to raise money for HIV services in Jamaica (a mind boggling and wrong-headed move as any).

Previously, we also suggested that LIFEbeat consider holding a concert featuring singer Tanya Stephens although I admit the suggestion was based on an amazing interview that ran in the European Riddim Magazine and an amazing track from her (then) unreleased CD "Rebelution" (currently only $12.97 at Amazon.com) called "These Streets" which was featured on their cover-mount CD.

I finally got my hands on a copy (which includes a DVD with a documentary and Tanya performing some acoustic versions of some of the songs on the CD) and I just have to say that I am blown away. It's a warm, emotional, stunningly beautiful album that might just be my favorite CD of the year.

The article mentioned that the album would deal directly with issues related to homophobia in Jamaica and it certainly does. Below you will find excerpted lyrics from the song "Do You Still Care" which Riddim called the track that might draw the most controversy. It's just one amazing track.

People, please support Tanya! And I'm not just saying this because she is gay-friendly but rather because the album is so great!

• Buy Tanya at Amazon.com
• "These Streets" video here
  
• Get to know Tanya at MySpace.com

Excerpt from Tanya Stephen's "Do You Still Care?"
Where Bigga grew up boys were supposed to be tough
Girls were trophies every man always kept a few of
When he was hurt and the tears would sting at his eyes
His mother said, "Stop the noise, yuh a girl? Real boys don't cry"
He learned in order to be a man he had to know how to fight
And had some very definitive rules bout what's wrong or right
He never had the luxury of being able to choose
So to him for being different there was no excuse
Bigga was hustling on the corner, making some cash
When he bumped into some beef that he had from the past
He watched the guns raise and the bullets fly
In disbelief as his friends all jumped in their rides
Left him in the gutter didn't care if he died
He was rescued by a care with plates that said "Gay Pride"
It would have been fatal, the shot in your head
They saved your life though you always said chi-chi fi dead

Yo quiero Taco Bell (and other articles you might want to read)

Lately there's been much out there that I wanted to blog about but little time to do so. Translating Spanish language information from Latin America takes inordinate amounts of time so posts on Latin American LGBT issues have been unfortunately missing from Blabbeando as of late. We'll try to remedy this as time allows in the near future. Still, there are some interesting English-language news that you might have missed out there so, without further ado, a list of recent articles of note:

Chalupeando: Advertising Age, the advertising business bible, runs a hilarious piece on Taco Bell's attempts to draw Latino costumers which have proved futile, analysts say "the problem is the product"

Progresando: The Washington Blade has a piece on Latinos en Accion, a Washington, DC-based Latino gay organization and their goal to find funding and a space for a drop-in center for the area's Latino LGBT community.

Inmigrando: The Toronto Sun reports on up to 150 HIV positive immigrants who decided to stay in Canada after the International AIDS Conference last month in Toronto. They have filed for refugee status and include at least one man from El Salvador. In a more extensive report, Canada.com puts the number of those seeking refugee status at 137 and say that it's been reported that "the majority of claimants are women" from African countries, including Uganda.

More madness from Jamaica: In the meantime, the Jamaica Gleaner has been following a story about the Jamaica Employer's Association (JEF) suggestion that businesses should test potential and current employees for HIV. The stance has drawn stern rebukes from the Medical Association of Jamaica, the government's own National AIDS Committee, and leading editorial writers.

Matarile al maricon: Molotov at Webster Hall

Following up on issues related to homophobic lyrics in music:

I have yet to hear how it turned out but last night a group of people were supposed to hold a protest outside the House of Blues in Chicago where rap-performer and actor DMX was performing (as Keith Boykin reports in his blog). They were objecting to lyrics in songs such as "Where the Hood at?" and "Touch It" (sang with Busta Rhymes) which call in no uncertain terms for the shooting of gays [UPDATE: Here's Keith's report on what went on in Chicago yesterday]

The action follows ongoing efforts to highlight homophobic content in lyrics by popular music artists, most recently taking the shape of a successful effort by a number of bloggers to challenge the LIFEbeat foundation for hiring dancehall reggae singers Beenie Man and TOK to perform at a HIV/AIDS services benefit (btw - novalism has some choice words about media representation of the action here)

Now, if you remember, that particular event was supposed to take place at Webster Hall in NYC (LIFEbeat cancelled the show despite calls to replace the performers with dancehall stars without a history of calling for the death of gays). Now comes word that a band that also has called for the death of gays in their lyrics will be performing there next week on August 1st and this time it's not a dancehall act or a rap act but a Mexican rock band called Molotov.

In "Puto" (closest translation: fag or man-whore) from Molotov's 1997 album "Donde Jugarán Las Niñas," the band sings in Spanish:

[EXCERPT]

So you are macho man, no? Ah, so macho, no?
Faggot, girly, you're rather a little male-whore, no?

Background chorus: Fag, Fag, Fag, Fag, Fag. Fag, Fag, Fag

FAG!! He who doesn't jump up and down
FAG!! He who doesn't shout and swear
FAG!! The guy who remained in conformity
FAG!! He who believed the official reports
FAG!! He who takes away our food
FAG!! Also he who covers it up
FAG!! He who doesn't do whatever he wants
FAG!! Born a fag, dies a fag

Love the killer
Kill the faggot
And what does that son of a bitch want?
He wants to cry, he wants to cry

According to Wiki-Pedia (which is not always trustworthy), the original album first came under-fire upon its release in Mexico for its cover which depicts "a young woman's legs seductively displayed in school uniform" (I might ad that the young girl is depicted in the front seat of a car with her underwear lowered around her legs). "Puto" did not actually come under fire until the band traveled to Europe where it met resistance from protesters in Germany (according to the Wiki-Pedia link) and Spain (according to the band's MySpace.com page).

In the past, Molotov have denied that the song is in any way, shape or form homophobic. In an article published in Uruguay's Ultima Hora on February 19, 2004 (which is no longer online), they were asked about the lyrics during a press conference. Band member Randy Ebright, who was actually born in the United States, was the one who came to its defense telling reporters that the song was meant to attack Mexican government officials and not the gay community. According to Ebright in Mexico the word "puto" meant "queer, someone who is fearful, who doesn't want to confront certain things."

"They cannot censure our presentations; the ones who censor us are radio stations and television. That is why we like to invite people to come to our presentations so that they get to know the group, the type of music we put out there, what topics we address and how we are in reality" (the argument that it's simply a protest song against the government has striking similarities to dancehall star Beenie Man's defense of his homophobic lyrics which, at one point, he said were not directed at gays but at Jamaica's Prime Minister).

The British monthly magazine The Economist certainly didn't make those distinctions when they published a piece on LGBT rights developments in Latin America back in December of 1999 that begun with an anecdote that involved the song playing at bars in Mexico City.

And then there are Molotov's fans which seem to skew towards the younger side and mostly male segment of the Latino community. I'm not sure they make those distinctions either judging by this, this, this, this, or the audience requesting that the band perform it here.

Back in 2004, some of us complained to the organizers of Central Park's Summer Stage after another Mexican band, El Tri, covered "Puto" at their presentation that year. After raising the issue, Summer Stage promised that they would be more careful about scheduling bands that promoted hateful violence.

If you actually read the lyrics above you can actually see how they do reflect a blistering attack on those who might be passive to conformity and official corruption. But, as a Mexican friend of mine told me, why is it that when bands seek the worst thing to call anyone they immediately grab for the homophobic language? Daniel, my friend, says that in Mexico it's directly related to macho culture and the fact that bending over is seen as the worst thing a real man can do (not that it doesn't happen in the United States as the DMX protest shows). But, whether we actually take Molotov's defense of the song at face value and recognize it as a critique on government, it doesn't mean that the crowds who have embraced the song haven't done so because it allows them to embrace the calls to kill a faggot.

Believe me, I have been at concerts where the song has been played over the speakers before the actual show, and the crowd reaction is immediate, aggressive, loud, violent and extremely homophobic.

Molotov will begin their 2006 US tour at Webster Hall on August 1st, 2006, and end at Austin Stubb's in Austin, TX on August 19. In between, they'll be touching base at Chicago (at the House of Blues), Denver, Los Angeles and Dallas, among other cities.

Riddim magazine: Homophobia in dancehall music

The 4th issue of the English-language version of Germany's Riddim magazine is out in the stands and selling for $5.99 in local magazine shops. Each issue takes a look at an array of reggae artists, some from Jamaica and the Caribbean, others from the Caribbean communities in Europe and the United States. Each issue also has a free CD packed with music that often showcases some great stuff from known and not-so-known acts.

A few days removed from the LIFEbeat debacle, it's interesting to note how a magazine devoted to reggae culture does not shy away from the issue of homophobia in reggae dancehall music.

Yup, that's Elephant Man on the cover. Some of us staged a protest against him and others for their homophobic lyrics when they performed at the Hammerstein Ballroom in September of 2004 at a concert promoted by local radio station Hot97 in New York.

In a featured interview, Elephant Man talks about his love for strip-bars, his many girlfriends and his 'anaconda' ("which I'm informed by a reliable source is eye-watering large" writes the British reporter), his glorification of guns and gangster culture and, oh yeah, his love for God.

He also addresses recent ellegations that he has AIDS by giving a direct if somewhat myopic response, considering his repeated boasts about the number of sexual partners he has: "That is the most terrible rumor there could ever be about you. When people spread those kind of t'ings, they trying to hurt you very bad but I got over it. Whoever started it know it's not true. They see me every day at stage show, dancing, performing, drinking liquor with my friends and doing all dem good t'ings. How could I have AIDS?"

Hm, at least he wasn't on the original LIFEbeat line-up.

Of the 2004 protests against "murder music" he is less forthcoming and, while there are no appologies, he does seem to indicate some sort of truce brought upon by the demands of being on a major music label: "I know why all that happen, but now we put it aside. We don't talk about them. We just do music, we happy, they happy. Nobody wanna go back to being a problem to nobody. Everyone's just taking it easy and being cool. If you'e on a major label, you can't think of saying those kind of things."

Turn over to page 44 though and you'll see another side of the issue. Tanya Stephens, a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter who has been in the industry for more than two decades, is also profiled in advance of the August 29th release of her new CD Rebelution, which the magazine crowns as the release of the month. In the review Riddim says "It seems unlikely that any other [reggae] album will be able to top Tanya's this year" ("These Streets," a track from Rebelution included on the free covermount CD is simply beautiful, hear it and more on Tanya Stephen's myspace page).

In an amazing interview in which she talks candidly about the state of dancehall reggae, her refusal to play into industry pressures to be more "sexy," her repudiation of the "lynch-mob mentality" that permeates some dancehall culture, and her new found responsibility to serve as a mentor to a number of upcoming female performers, she also talks about breaking sexual taboos through her songs and the issue of homophobia in dancehall lyrics.

Take "Freaky Type:" In the song, Stephens questions some men's hatred of "bow-cats" (other men who perform oral sex on women) and confesses that she rather enjoys "being bowed" but also says that what two people do between the sheets is nobody's business. She tells Riddim "People in Jamaica need to understand the concept of free will. As long as you're not affecting or hurting anybody in a negative way, what right have people to intervene in a way like that?"

In the new album, the magazine contends that the track that will probably draw the most controversy will be "Do You Still Care?" In it she starts by asking listeners to put themselves in the shoes of someone who is different than them, someone who needs help. She then flips the situation and asks people to think if, in a time of need, they would accept help from someone who was different from them. She ends by explicitly drawing comparissions between racism and discrimination based on sexual identity.

"By tying the race issue to the homophobic issue I'm making the point whether someone is different by birth or choice they should be accepted for what they are. We need to learn to leave with each other and share the space that's not intrinsically yours, but ours. All discrimination is as stupod as the next; one shouldn't be more acceptable than the other. I felt it my duty to make that point."

Memo to LIFEbeat: How about a Caribbean benefit concert featuring Tanya Stephens?

By the way, talking about the LIFEbeat incident, Terence Heath has some interesting comments on possible next steps and on how the issue reverberated through the blogosphere (just thought I'd share).

And, talking about homophobia in the Caribbean, after initially runing an excerpt, Out magazine has decided to give complete online access to a feature story in this month's issue on the recent attack in St. Marteen that left two gay US tourists with massive head wounds. Although the attack still seems the result of a homophobic reaction, the article dares to question whether there was some provocation and indicates that one of the gay Americans who knew the victims and was there at the moment of the attack called one of the assailants a "crazy nigger" while the attack was taking place. The article still condems the vicious attack but, not surprisingly, most readers who have left comments at Out online are up in arms about some unflattering details about the American tourists' aggressive behavior.

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."