photo from my sister blog GLBTQJA on Wordpress
Here is the Gleaner article related to the post's title:
J-FLAG Stands Behind Dancehall - Gay-Rights Group Bats For Reformed Dancehall Artistes
Davina Henry, Staff Reporter
The controversial Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is offering to help dancehall and reggae artistes respond to efforts by gay-rights groups overseas to boycott their performances and music.
Some Jamaican artistes who have divorced themselves from 'murder music' have, in recent time, come under renewed attacks from gay-rights activists. The sanctions have resulted in recent mass protests and cancellations.
But J-FLAG Executive Director Dane Lewis said the organisation is concerned about the recent spate of protests and the stance taken by many of the groups who mobilise these actions.
Although J-FLAG was, in the past, involved with anti-murder-music campaigns, Lewis said the landscape has changed significantly.
"The truth is we aren't even involved in these anti-murder-music campaigns today and, in most cases, we are alerted of these protests through our local media. Every now and again, some protesters might email asking for clarifications on songs and the general situation regarding LGBT Jamaicans. But, to our knowledge, far less hate music is being produced, and even sponsors have been responsive in the effort to make this type of music a thing of the past," Lewis said.
Lewis said many protesters are concerned about songs containing lyrics that either directly or indirectly call for violence against gays and lesbians, which have been recorded and performed by Jamaican artistes.
OFFICIAL STANCE
He contends that J-FLAG's official stance is that the continued demonising of some of these artistes is unfair.
He also said that although groups are aware that many of the contentious songs were recorded in the past, with some artistes no longer performing them, cancellations are still a possibility.
Beenie Man suffered a cancellation as recently as last month for the same reason.
According to Lewis, J-FLAG has made representations on its own initiative to groups overseas after learning about plans to stage, what he called in his interview with The Sunday Gleaner, "anti-dancehall protests".
He said those representations have gone well, but that the groups usually respond with "unreasonable initial requests".
Lewis went on to say that at least two dancehall megastars have benefitted from J-FLAG's discussions with these groups.
At least one group has suggested to the local lobby organisation that artistes such as Beenie Man "gather up all the money that he has made from these kill-the-gays songs and then publicly donate it to Jamaican LGBT groups like J-FLAG, and pledge to never perform or circulate recordings of the offending songs, then that might makes things right".
Efforts by The Sunday Gleaner to contact Beenie Man for a comment were unsuccessful. However, Lewis quipped that "requests like that are the stuff of fairytales".
"We don't support 'kill-the-gays' music, and our stance on this issue is not to be seen as a compromise on our abject rejection of homophobia, hate music, hate speech and other forms of discrimination against LGBT Jamaicans. But the idea that artistes provide all earnings over the years from 'murder music' is an unreasonable expectation, and it's unlikely that our artistes would be able to do this, so we have to find some other way to end the constant conflict," Lewis explained.
COULD REPRESENT ARTISTES
He said that in the end, the group responded favourably and changed their stance on the issue, but believes that the representations would be more effective if they were being presented officially on behalf of the artistes being affected.
Copeland Forbes, one of the foremost members of Jamaica's entertainment fraternity, does not believe artistes will be willing to work with J-FLAG as they have contributed to the problems they are currently facing."I do not see where J-FLAG can help these artistes. The artistes have to help themselves. J-FLAG was the same one who was sending translations of our songs to these people overseas. I would, personally, not want to align myself with them when they represent the same group. J-FLAG contributed to what is happening now, so I, personally, would not want them lobbying on my behalf. I believe that if anyone should represent these artistes, it should come through the culture ministry or a government agency."
Dancehall artiste Bounty Killer says that while there needs to be increased conversation with the groups overseas, he doesn't believe that J-FLAG should be lobbying on behalf of dancehall.
"I am not open for them to lobby on my behalf. Both J-FLAG and their international counterparts need to have a discussion for an understanding of what's happening in dancehall. How would it look for them to solely lobby on dancehall's behalf? If any group should lobby for dancehall, it should be a group that is directly affiliated with our music. I am open for a discussion as it relates to lobbying with their counterparts to understand us, but I am not in agreement with them lobbying on my behalf," he said.
While artiste Tanya Stephens believes that this initiative by J-FLAG is a good move, she told The Sunday Gleaner that it would be met with resistance.
"I can speak from experience. I tried to speak with several artistes about this new initiative of J-FLAG and it was met with resistance. While I personally have not been affected by these lobbyists, I have been on shows with other artistes who were not allowed to perform, but that doesn't mean that it's still not my fight. From a humanitarian perspective, the fight is to get us all on the same page," she said.
Lewis said his organisation has decided to put this issue on its agenda because "while we have had significant issues in the past with the lyrical content of much of the music, dancehall and reggae are an inalienable part of being Jamaican".
CONCERNED
He mentioned that J-FLAG was concerned about the "livelihood of artistes and the many people, and I am sure this includes LGBT people, that depend on these artistes for their daily survival".
When asked if this was a divisive issue in the gay community, the J-FLAG boss said, "I wouldn't want to look at the issue through such a myopic lens."
He continued, saying that J-FLAG is not interested in easing any pressure off artistes who continue to be antagonistic to the gay community, but believes all Jamaicans should be concerned at what seems to be some sort of punishment for artistes who have actively committed to the cessation of murder music.
However, the artistes that want help must ask for it.
"J-FLAG has no hero complex, and we are not saying that we will be taking up this mantle on behalf of Jamaican music. What we are saying is that, for those artistes who continue to face the kind of punitive measures used by our international counterparts and are interested in coordinating responses to their concerns, we are willing to help. No strings attached," he said.
Stephens agrees, adding that the only solution to the problem is through dialogue.
"Dialogue is what we need and I, personally, have to commend J-FLAG for pioneering steps to a peaceful solution and I am extremely happy that they are going in this direction."
Lewis said he hopes these efforts "will, not only result in international lobby groups easing pressure on those artistes who no longer produce the kind of hateful music that started the anti-murder music campaign, but also encourage those artistes who still produce this kind of music to stop, knowing that our organisation will go to bat for them in the international arena."
"Our music is an important part of our being and it is all our duty - government and citizens - to promote our culture to the fullest. We cannot allow our music to be typecast by a few artistes and their personal beliefs. Reggae and dancehall music is much more than hate and we are willing to work with artistes who are so desirous of portraying this image," said Lewis.
ENDS
To address Mr Lewis comment on the LGBT groups overseas who seem to act on their own without consulting other here, they do in fact have kept in touch with individual influentials and persons in the know of the latest releases and "riddims" packages from the various recording studios and production houses. The network has been quietly doing the work outside of the J. Groups in Paris such as Tjenbe Red and in the US as the Gay Liberation Network, GLN do call or link on a timely basis. This is one section of the agitation where the collaboration seems workable other times we see over exuberant groups who while supporting us in a sense also do act outside of any consultations.
Only today I blogged about one such perceived action by a New Jersey group with alleged instances of harassment of the Minister of Education Reverend Ronnie Thwaites following the controversial Home and Family Life, HFLE's withdrawal from schools due to questions therein on homosexuality, anal sex and HIV with a guided imagery exercise that was to increase awareness of stigma leading to more tolerance, while overlooking the urgent need to discuss and teach sex and sexuality.
The only satisfaction for me on this matter is the artistes guilty over the years of this practice of songs advocating the demise of LGBT persons and promoting hate and intolerance MUST pull the songs from the marketplace altogether, disassociate themselves from such utterances seeing that they say they have matured (who are they fooling) to simply say the songs were done years ago and that they have moved on is not enough as they continue to earn from them via royalties from some outlets such as ITunes etc where songs like Buju Banton's - Boom Bye Bye is still available and the songs get played non-the-less despite a report in 2008 that himself and tracks by Elephant Man, TOK and others were removed by the site.
The story read in part:
American company Apple Inc has removed songs from dancehall artistes Buju Banton, T.O.K. and Elephant Man from their iTunes site citing that the songs incite violence against homosexuals.In response to letters written by the pro-homosexual Canadian-based organ-isations Egale and SMM (Stop Murder Music) to iTunes in January, iTunes has removed controversial murder music from Jamaican artistes in its North American markets. Boom Bye Bye from Buju Banton, Chi-Chi Man from T.O.K. and Log On by Elephant Man have all been pulled from iTunes stores and the iTunes website.
Apple's iTunes is the leading on line distributor of music in North America through their websites and iTunes stores. Since 2008 over four billion songs have been downloaded since the service first launched on April 28, 2003.
The story read in part:
American company Apple Inc has removed songs from dancehall artistes Buju Banton, T.O.K. and Elephant Man from their iTunes site citing that the songs incite violence against homosexuals.In response to letters written by the pro-homosexual Canadian-based organ-isations Egale and SMM (Stop Murder Music) to iTunes in January, iTunes has removed controversial murder music from Jamaican artistes in its North American markets. Boom Bye Bye from Buju Banton, Chi-Chi Man from T.O.K. and Log On by Elephant Man have all been pulled from iTunes stores and the iTunes website.
Apple's iTunes is the leading on line distributor of music in North America through their websites and iTunes stores. Since 2008 over four billion songs have been downloaded since the service first launched on April 28, 2003.
MORE HERE
meanwhile
meanwhile
Beenieman's old song such as No Phobia (di urge riddim) an old anti gay anti oral sex track is still up as well on the site too, SEE HERE you decide.
Peace and tolerance
H
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