As it did in October a coalition of queer, black and human rights groups has succeeded in preventing Jamaican musicians from performing in Canada.
Shows by dancehall musicians Capleton, Baby Cham and Beenie Man have all been cancelled. The artists were scheduled to perform in southern Ontario in November and December. The Stop Murder Music Canada coalition (SMM) opposed their entry into the country on the grounds of homophobic lyrics the coalition says violate Canada's hate laws.
"All three are gone," says Helen Kennedy, the executive director of queer lobby group Egale Canada, a member of SMM. "None of the artists who violate our criminal code will perform, which is good news. Our objective is to raise the awareness of the human rights violations when these artists come to this country."
Kennedy says SMM sent a letter to Minister of Immigration Diane Finley asking her to deny entry to the artists on the grounds that their songs violate Canada's hate laws. But Kennedy says they have received no reply. Nobody from Finley's office returned calls from Xtra.
SMM met with the promoters of the Baby Cham and Beenie Man shows and demanded the artists publicly sign - in Jamaica - the Reggae Compassion Act, a contract in which the artist apologizes for writing and performing homophobic songs and pledges not to perform them any more.
Kennedy says she thinks the artists probably didn't take well to the demand.
"One can guess that the conversation didn't go very well," she says.
Read Full Story: www.xtra.ca
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Posted on November 26, 2007 11:09
A Wah do dem raas fish and fishette deh man!?!
Posted on November 28, 2007 18:27
I don't think gay people should be murdered, but what they do is WRONG. People hate the truth. It's disgusting, they have sex where people release toxic waste from their bodies. YUK! People continue to preach everyone should have FREE SPEECH in these countries, but they really don't want you too. People should be able to stand yo for what they believe in. You shouldn't promote murder...but GAY MEN, GAY WOMEN, FIRE PON DEM! The reggae artist should get together and promote their own things. Work together! Just like the gay people get together and work for their cause...the reggae artist should get together and work for there cause....they're just trying to promote righteousness. The media does not want to tell the truth but AIDS is more easily spread between men
Posted on April 9, 2008 16:31
Beenie Man, Capleton, Babysham and alll the other reggae artists, stand up for what you believe in that is right. I support what Laura states that gay people should not be murdered but what they do is wrong.Everyone all the over the world should have free speech and should be able to stand up for what they believe in. Do not let anyone, anywhere in this world force their beliefs on you. I hope you all did not sign or make any promise, publicly to the ridiculous "Reggae Compassion Act" that the promoters are trying to forece on you. Seems like democracy is on its way out in Jamaica.
Posted on May 6, 2008 01:28
AIDS is more easily spread from those who have AIDS REGARDLESS of sexuality. Love isn't wrong and many straight people have sex "where people release toxic waste from their bodies"! What bout them? Hating homosexuals is HATE, period. And NO GOD is Pro-Hate. That's more of an evil/Devil thing. Gay people have always been around, and they always will be. So best to get over it! Yall a bunch of macocious people!
Posted on October 21, 2008 20:01
And Me begin a Jamaican we say the same thing to those who chose to have anal sex with women.they are worse than homosexuals because you have a vagina right in front of you but you chose to put in in the ass. Me personally think that is very wrong.