By Steven Jackson
The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) is "unimpressed" by Buju Banton's meeting with the San Francisco group, adding that the impasse tarnishes Jamaica's reputation.
At the same time, J-FLAG said it doesn't want philanthropy but, rather, tolerance from Banton and other deejays.
"In a word, J-FLAG is not convinced that the meeting has produced any tangible results for the gay community that has been the target of Mr Myrie's violent 1992 lyrics, sung a number of times in recent years as a mark of defiance against gay rights protesters," said Jason McFarlane J-FLAG programmes manager in response to Splash queries.
J-FLAG remains resolute in its position that no agreement can be reached between Banton and the gay community until (a) he desists from publicly performing Boom Bye-Bye and (b) repudiates the call for the "murder" of gay and lesbian Jamaicans.
Banton said on a Wednesday night radio programme that gay murders in Jamaica are predominantly crimes of passion and not hate.
"These are the minimum conditions required by decency for him to be absolved of his incitement of violence against these groups. Anything less is mere farce and a public relations stunt to garner support for his music," noted J-FLAG.
This week, dancehall artiste Mark Myrie, aka Buju Banton, met gay rights activists in San Francisco, USA. The meeting was to discuss concerns of the gay community who have long protested his shows. Banton's international career has been dogged by protesters and show cancellations since recording his 17-year-old, anti-gay song, Boom Bye Bye.
The meeting's participants wanted Banton to give the proceeds from the song to J-FLAG, hold a pro-gay town hall meeting and sing pro-gay lyrics. These requests were berated by Banton and also J-FLAG.
"J-FLAG is under no illusion that Mr Myrie or other DJs of his ilk will ever be minded to produce music that preaches the dignity of all life, including that of gays and lesbians. Neither do we expect contributions of any sort from them. In fact, such an engagement with the gay community is not our goal," said J-FLAG.
"What we insist on, however, is that no one treats us as less deserving of the right to life than other Jamaicans by virtue of our sexual orientation."
CONTINUE HERE
Here are some of the comments mostly negative as usual:
Bunny
10/16/2009 3:42 AM
Jamaica;s tolerance towards you gays will never increase. Because of your continued and high profile attack on Buju, people are likely to be even less tolerant,
You hipocrites, you have committed some of the most heinous murders in this country and have the gall to talk about this impasse marring Jamaica's reputation.
D
10/16/2009 4:34 AM
Unu stop tell lie seh people a murder unu !, and stop kill unu oneanother !, be responsible and keep unu activities at unu yard lol. Like how Peterking du him ting untill one of him boyfriend murdered him. And stop pressure Buju, him nah sel out like sum artiste and evry ting will be fine.
dadda
10/16/2009 6:10 AM
lol@ those nasty ppl in jflag
gar
10/16/2009 6:38 AM
God say be fruitful and multiply. Why you gays and lesbian cant stop infiltrating your nastiness in Jamaica.
Be logical gays,without a man and a woman, there will be no YOU. Hence,no further generation.
You people are just selfish about your lifestyle. You are greedy and unethical.
Pauline
10/16/2009 6:57 AM
The members of JFLAG need to look within and counsel their member that when a relationship goes sour the parties should just leave...end of relationship. or try and mediate...work it out or something.... Instead they just downright murder each other in the most vicious manner.
E Morgan10/16/2009 7:10 AM
Well said. Unfortunately, thing will not change in Jamaica as it continues to produce uneducated, ignorant and intolerant people (see any international report on illiteracy in Jamaica, and it is not getting better, it is getting worst). You want proof? See the previous comments.
livity10/16/2009 7:53 AM
jflag you are an agent of the devil.
Ever10/16/2009 8:18 AM
Jamaica will not be the nasty paradise you all dream about , i am sure you all have visas so use them go somewhere else where you dont have to worry about how much we will not bow to your dydfunctional demands
END
There are a few more weeks of Buju Banton's 2009 tour of the U.S.
ReplyDeleteWe need to keep up the pressure on the clubs and on Buju Banton.
It is not right for someone who has called for gays to be maimed, tortured and killed to be performing publicly in our country without protest. Buju is making money from "Boom Bye Bye" from downloads.
See: http://cancelbujubanton.wetpaint.com/
Hang in there J-Flag. You are our heroes!
ReplyDelete