Elephant Man's "Wi nuh like gays" lyrics (flashback)

Artist: Elephant Man
Song: We Nuh Like Gay (aka Nuk Like)
Album: Face Off Volume 2 (Various Artists)
Audio CD (4 January, 2000)
Number of Discs: 1
Label: VP
ASIN: B00003OPAA
Catalogue Number: VPCD2108

Excerpt

Intro:

Ayo, Badman nah par wid informer nor gay, Yuh no like dem, Cha,
Whatever, A, We nuh like gay, We nuh like gay, No way, We no like gay,
Mans start Scare Dem give me the AK, General B. of course,

Chorus:

We no like gay, we no like gay,
Well ah just how Jamaican stay,
From you no like battyman well me waan see yuh gun right-away, gunright-away,
Cau we bun dem and we run dem, Battyman and badman caan be friend,
You nuh like battyman Tivali man juss wave yuh Mack 10, wave yuh Mack, A!
Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den!
No battybwoy caan come march in ah Kingston City, City,
Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den!
No battybwoy caan come march pon Christmas Day, juss som-me me, A!

Verse 1:

Everyday yuh get up and meddle with bauxide, Woman so sweet and ah man go ride,
Yuh fi 'member yuh can run but you caan hide, Everyone ah who owna battyship ah go capsize,
Battyman fi dead! Tek dem by surprise, Ghetta in shot head, cau me big gun collide,
Monster Shack, buss the Glock in thine eyes, Captain Barkey gimme me Tech-9,
General B. wid de chrome an waa shine, Harry Toddler shot out ah bugger-man,
A! Den!

Chorus:

We no like gay, we no like gay, Well ah just how Jamaican stay,
From you no like battyman well me waan see yuh gun right-away, gun right-away,
Cau we bun dem and we run dem, Scare Dem and battyman nah go friend,
You nuh like battyman Monster Shack juss wave the Mack 10, wave the Mack, A!

Verse 2:

Battyman ah fassyhole me know say dem ah midgit inna man, ????????
Man ah fiyah dem rim-it, Battyman waan march, deh wrong crime they woulda commit,
Gimme the ????, Bounty Killa ah guh dun it, Gimme the Tech-9, down ah Seaview we bun it,
If they come ah fate-man me know dem are gonna run it, Battyman fi dead!
Jungle man dem seh spread it,

Battyman fi dead! ????man seh see spread it, ???man fi dead! Monster Shack seh see spread it,
Why? Cau Scare Dem Crew dun said it, A!

Chorus:

We no like gay, we no like gay, Well ah just how Jamaican stay,
From you no like battyman well me waan see yuh gun right-away, gun right-away,
Cau we bun dem and we run dem, Battyman and badman caan be friend,
You nuh like battyman Spanish Town juss rise yuh Mack 10, rise yuh Mack, A!
Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den!
No battybwoy caan come march in ah Kingston City, A!,
Wave yuh guuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Wave yuh uuuuun, wave yuh guuuuun, Den!
No battybwoy caan come march pon Christmas Day, A, Badman nah

Verse 3:

Me hear something go so zoom, Battybwoy house juss get backa zoomer, bere batty yuh waan,
Yuh no waan nuh pom-pom, See gal deh, yuh ah run from pom-pom, Gimme deh gun, lemme shot him boom boom,

Don't waan no gal, not even fatty pom-pom, Gimme any gal out deh, Hail peh pom-pom
Tracks which do not explicitly incite violence against lesbians and gay men, but which are likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to lesbian and gay people

Dancehall's princess "Spice" lesbophobic rant "No Gyal To Mi Ting "

So another female dancehall artist has come out against same gender loving women activities in a track called "No Gyal To Mi Ting" (No Girls To My Thing)

[meaning vagina in this case as we sexualize nearly everything in Jamaica]

..... of course others to have done so were Lady Saw and Macka Diamond. One hardly hears songs like this from the female side of the dancehall music business but at least from listening to the track it has no recommendations of death or harm to come to the possible same gender loving woman if identified.

That designation could speak to the far greater tolerance level in Jamaican society and by extension the world of lesbianism as opposed to male homosexuality. Lesbian sex is even accepted in the adult entertainment night club arena where several spots across the island do offer servings of such to eager men and women too who seem to enjoy the shows with very little dissent in most cases.

Hear the song:

Other male acts that have hit out at lesbian life are Elephant Man, Mr. Lexx aka Lexxuss, Mr. G aka Goofie, Bounty Killa, Beenieman among others but the usual hit out is far softer when compared to the male same gender loving counterparts as the prescription is uisually some violence or death as the punishment.

Elephant Man (O'Neil Bryant) declares in one song, "When you hear a lesbian getting raped/ It's not our fault ... Two women in bed/ That's two Sodomites who should be dead." Reactions have been mixed from all quarters including some lesbians who proudly rebut the song even on the youtube channel where the song appears. The Spice track has been getting heavy rotation as a radio version has softened it somewhat, HITZ 92, IRIE FM and ZIP 103 FM sister station to IRIE have all been spinning it proudly maybe as a softer way to imply the anti homosexual message as the strict monitoring of the Broadcasting Commission prohibits openly suggestive songs of violence of any sort.

The lyrics suggest:

A wah do some gal? a gal a dem gal (what's up with some girls? its girls as their girl [lover])

No gyal to mi ting (No girls to my thing)

No gyal caan fingle mi tingalingaling (No girl can't touch my tinga ling [vagina]

Caan gimme ring or but mi bling bling (Can't give me a ring or buy me blings [jewelry])

No gyal caan ask fi mi BB pin (No girl cannot ask for my BB pin)

No gyal caan tell me fi wine (No girl can't tell me to whine [suggest Jamaican dance])

Str8 man alone wi always be mine (Strictly men alone will always be mine)

No gyal caan stand up inna mi line (No girl can't stand in my line [be in my life sexually])

No gyal caan show me the love me sign

No gyal caan see mi and pree mi u get mi? (no girl can't see me & view me you understand?)

When mi a wine a man alone can set mi (When I am dancing men alone can set me)

No female only male can get me

No gyal caan touch me up inna salon (No girl can't touch me in a salon) - suggesting hairdressers maybe involved in lesbian activity, a perception that is real out there.

So there you have a summary of the song placed here, strange enough Spice has a large LGBT following and when her songs are played at parties they are responded to quite well. Save and except for her duet with Vybz Kartel in "Ramping Shop" the opening lyric where she responds to Kartel's line "....man to man gal to gal dat wrong (men to men girls to girls that's wrong) she replies "scorn dem" (scorn them) so she may have a consistency building.

Peace and tolerance

H

Apology Accepted JCF but some questions on several fronts still linger ...

So now that the dust is settling with this matter of an accusation or assertion that gays are involved in 80 - 90% or organised crimes though not specified in the television newcast where it was beamed to the world and most of us were enraged at first at the comment as it seemed to have labelled us as all fraudsters. There are some in the community who are questioning also was all the noise from JFLAG towards SSP Bailey needed here when it should have been sent to TVJ instead as they seemed to have edited certain parts of that interview which may have excluded the context in which he was speaking.

TVJ Logo

That reaction is understandable but in hindsight now some questions came to mind from those who have expressed them and myself:

Is Superintendent Bailey really to be blamed here?

Did television Jamaica leave out whether purposely or not the context in which he was speaking?

Was TVJ malicious to begin with as when Doraine Samuels led us into the story she did say "A senior Superintendent of Police is asserting this evening that gays are responsible for many of the organised crimes his division is investigating..." The reported Nadine McCleod also said he didn't specify which crimes homosexuals were responsible for.

Did we go off on a matter that could have been settled easily?

Do you think we will see any fallout from this?

Was JFLAG operating ethically by appearing everywhere on radio and crying fowl where it may not have been so?

Is Clovis (Observer cartoon drawer above) creating unneeded stereotyping of gays with this cartoon and thus blowing up the issue further?

Was all this noise needed?

Are there some things we should let pass and settle by themselves?

Was the J trying to flex its muscles with this issue when there are other things it needs to be so vocal and active about?

Did the reporter do a good job covering the story? she seemed not to have asked him to elaborate further, if he had refused then there would have been grounds to blame him.

What about Mr. Bailey's reputation after all this now that an apology has come from the high command superseding his own words and worth?

Here is the apology as published in the Jamaica Observer today:

JCF apologises for 'gay crime' statement

COMMISSIONER of Police, Owen Ellington, says that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) withdraws the statement by Senior Superintendent of Police Fitz Bailey, head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID), which identified homosexuals as being prominently involved in the ‘Lottery Scam’ and highly lucrative criminal enterprise.

In a statement this morning, Ellington said that he had spoken to Bailey and that the JCF regretted any prejudice that might have arisen from the remarks.

"He shared information with me supporting his assertion and cited discussions he has had with representatives of J-FLAG (the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays) about the problem. He fully understands the basis of concern for the safety and well-being of members of the gay community who may be targeted by misguided individuals simply because of the statement's under reference," said the commissioner.

He assured the public that the JCF has no policy of singling out individual social groups for special attention.

"Our focus is on enforcing the laws without fear, favour, prejudice or ill-will. The JCF stands willing to receive and deal dispassionately with feedback from our publics. Our mission remains to serve, protect and re-assure all," said Ellington.

He reasoned that the matter demonstrated that the JCF was willing to listen and review its positions accordingly.

In the video he did say the following: (go to 2:59 for that story)
"I am not going to be prejudicial in my statement ....What I observed is that maybe 80 - 90% of these persons are homosexuals, it is something .... I don't know the gay community ... not being prejudicial but that's what we have identified."

It seems to me the reporter got what she wanted as the juicy piece for the story and the rest of the clip was a mere formality, so she didn't bother to get the clarification from the SSP as to what specific crimes did the gays commit as any ethical journalist and by extension newsroom manager would have demanded or followed up on when she came in with the reel. Instead a sensationalist piece is put forward with the possible damage it can cause, who cares?

Maybe this one is worth a quick resolve as yes as gays we are incensed about homophobia but in our zeal to crush it sometimes we may be too hasty to take action without listening, as George Michael would say listen without prejudice. Check properly before responding but it seems some folks didn't.

Something to think about.

tried an audio post as well, I hope to restart them soon:

More on the SSP statement by glbtqja1

also see:

J-FLAG Responds To Police’s Assertion About Gays & Organised Crimes

and

JFLAG's response to JCF apology by glbtqja1

Did Superintendent Bailey get his cue to lambaste the gay community as scammers from this NBC Miami report in which a Jamaican man was labelled as gay elsewhere?

Peace and tolerance

H

"Tell Me Pastor" on bisexuality .......

It's been a minute since we have seen any LGBT related letters to the Star News feature "Tell Me Pastor" I still believe some of those letters are made up or edited down to liquid it leaves nothing to the imagination.

Here is the newest letter which we may see a string of them coming now with all the LGBT issues around plus they come seasonally. He tries to be neutral at first in his answer to a bisexual female who according to the letter says she wants to come out. It's rare we see bisexual typed letters in this column as they are usually gay or lesbian tinged with strong admonishments coming from Pastor Dumas who is also a Psychologist. His hint at possible paedophilia towards the letter writer is clear as day suggesting that she must avoid her lover's daughter, it is sad that even a psychologist should sink so low in his pronouncements when he ought to know better or to suggest that she should not force her lifestyle on the teen as if she intended to is also disingenuous, the teen's mother in my estimation would have to handle that part, that would have been a more appropriate response in my view.

Here is the letter and Pastor's response:

I want to come out of the closet

Dear Pastor,

Congratulations on your good work. I am having a lot of issues. I don't really know where to start. I feel like I am going crazy. I am a 28-year-old female. I have migrated to the United Kingdom and I have been living here for 10 years now.

When I was in Jamaica, I used to live a bi-sexual lifestyle from the age of 16. After migrating to the UK, I tried my best not to live that way after convincing myself and struggled with my sexuality. I started dating only men, and tried to convince myself that it is wrong to be with a female. Moreover, I felt that if my family were to find out about me dating women, they would disown me.

After years of dating only men, I realised that it is not what I wanted. I was never happy and I felt trapped. For the past four years, I have been dating only females and I must say that I am very happy. I have been dating a lovely girl whom I love and adore very much for almost two years now. I came out to my mother who is living here, who to my surprise, said she knew a long time ago but she was waiting for me to tell her when I was comfortable.

My mother is my rock and she is very supportive in whatever I do, but my dad, who is still living in Jamaica, is still in the dark and is very ignorant to a lesbian or gay lifestyle. I am so scared to come out to him because he once said that if any of his children is gay, they can't call him dad. I really love my father and I wish he could understand that I tried not to live this life, but I don't feel happy with a man, and I feel like I was tortured when I was dating guys.

my world fell apart

My girlfriend has a daughter whom she visited last November. She is 15 and she didn't take it well. She has been acting up lately. Recently, I went by and she went out and didn't come home. She went by her boyfriend and my girlfriend's world fell apart. My stepdaughter is saying it is because of the situation between me and her mother, and she is finding it hard to cope. I, personally, think she is using it as an excuse as she has a very big family that would welcome her anytime, but she chooses to go by this guy's house.

Pastor, I love my girlfriend and I don't want to come between her and her daughter. We have come to a solution that I won't go by her house, but this won't solve the problem as we are planning a future together. I sacrificed a lot for this relationship. I was with another girl before who was living abroad and I ended that relationship for this one. I didn't regret it because I found out later that she was cheating on me.

Pastor, I also want a child with my girlfriend and she agreed to have one after she finishes her studies. I feel like in my relationship that I am the one who is always sacrificing everything. I know she loves me a lot, but sometimes I just feel drained and confused. I feel I am going mad. In my job, there is a lot of racism. It seems that in all aspect of my life something is wrong.

My mother, whom I adore, has been struggling with her immigration paperwork for the past 11 years. She is a very good person and she works very hard, yet people who don't work and scrounge off the government get their papers easily.

How do you think I should approach my dad? What should I do with my girlfriend and my step-daughter's situation? I can't concentrate. I feel like I am living a lie, even at my job. No one knows about my sexuality. I want to come out, because I am happy and I accept who I am, but I am scared of criticism and disapproval.

Please give me your advice. Keep up the good work.

C.T., London, U.K.

Pastor answers:

Dear C.T.,

It is well known that I do not sanction homosexuality. However, I do not condemn those who have chosen such a lifestyle. You claim that you have tried to date men, but you have not been happy with them. But when you started dating women, you became happy.

Something seems to be wrong, because you continue to say in your letter that, "It seems that in all aspects of my life something is wrong". I can tell you that you will never have peace in your heart and life until you have experienced a spiritual transformation in your life that would cause you to abandon your present lifestyle.

You are afraid to tell your father that you are a lesbian. Why not ask your mother to tell him? You want to make it known that you are a lesbian, so you should not be fearful of telling your dad. And, concerning the attitude of your lover's daughter towards you, please understand that this girl should not be forced to accept the type of life that her mother and yourself are living. So please do not try to bring any pressure on her.

Pastor

JFLAG says homophobic violence is on the increase across Jamaica. More than 50 cases reported. ...but a cynical public disbelieves part 2

Yesterday on a Jamaica Urban Transit public bus a news item was carried by Mello FM in Montego Bay on JFLAG's Press release as carried here too (see link) as the item was read I watched and listened expecting exactly what was carried elsewhere in terms of the comments of disbelief that gays are being attacked, one woman clearly stereotyped as a "higgler" based on her aesthetics said words to the effect that nuff battyman sell downtown and they weren't harassed so it's a lie that JFLAG is telling. (alot of gays ply their wares downtown and they are not harassed, it is untrue what JFLAG is reporting) many other passengers agreed and lamented that other rights based issued are more important than gays.

With the recent killings of a student by an unknown X6 driver and a brutal rape and murder of a 6 year old girl in Mountain View still fresh on the minds of many, persons are in no mood to entertain LGBT discourse now.

Again let me reiterate that simply putting out nice press releases and figures is not enough we need photos of injuries as I used to do when I was at the desk and have victims sign release forms to use said photos as strong evidence of such abuses.

Here are some of the incidents JFLAG said to have recorded over the period:

Total Number of Cases 51 [Males (47) Females (4)]

Assaults/Attacks (48) Displacement (11) Police related (12)

Case # Location Month Gender Age Perpetrator
Discrimination(Services)
Assaults/
Attacks Displacement Police Related Other

1 Clarendon March M 23 Mob * Verbal
2 Kingston March M 45 Co-tenants * HIV * Physical
3 Kingston May M 25 Group of Men * Verbal
4 Kingston January M 29 Group of Men * Verbal
5 Kingston January M 25 Family * Physical
6 Kingston April M 20 Family * Physical * Home
7 Kingston March M Landlord * Home
8 Kingston January M 24 Police * Physical *
9 Kingston April M 22 Individual * Verbal
10 Kingston February M 19 Family/Friends * Verbal
11 Kingston May M 36 Community * Verbal
12 Kingston February F 37 Individual * Verbal
13 Kingston February M 16 Family * Verbal * Home
14 Kingston June M 29 Group of Men * Verbal
15 Kingston January M 19 Community/Mob * Physical
16 Kingston March M 23 Landlord * Home
17 Kingston May M 22 Family * Verbal * Home
18 Ocho Rios March M 35 Neighbours * Verbal * Home
19 St. Andrew February M 27 Police * Verbal * Extortion/Blackmail
20 St. Ann January M 39 Community * Verbal
21 St. Ann January M 28 Group of Men * Physical
22 St. Ann May M 30 Police * Verbal * Harassment
23 St. Catherine M 21 Individual * Physical

24 St. Catherine February M 30 Individual * Verbal

25 St. Catherine April F 19 Family * Verbal * Home

26 St. Catherine May M 20 Family * Verbal

27 St. Catherine March M 21 Family * Verbal * Home

28 St. Catherine January M 28 Family * Verbal * Home

29 St. Catherine January M 26 Community * Verbal

30 St. Catherine May M Community/Mob * Verbal

31 St. Catherine June F 37 Community * Verbal * Home

32 St. James June M 19 Community/Mob * Physical

33 St. James June M 19 Father/Brother * Physical

34 St. James January M 25 Landlord * Home

35 St. James March M 19 Community * Verbal

36 St. James April M 19 Family * Verbal/Physical

37 St. James February M 20 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

38 St. James February M 23 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

39 St. James February F 21 Police * Verbal * Harassment

40 St. James February M 19 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

41 St. James February M 20 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

42 St. James February M 22 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

43 St. James February M 18 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

44 St. James February M 24 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

45 St. James February M 22 Police * Verbal/Physical * Harassment

46 St. James April M 21 Group of Men * Verbal

47 St. James June M 20 Community * Verbal

48 St. Mary May M 27 Group of Men * Physical

49 St. Thomas May M 29 Mob * Physical

50 St. Thomas May M 32 Jailers * Verbal

51 St. Thomas May M 32 Jailers * Verbal

Sadly the limpwristedness continues still that we had to find information about ourselves from foreign sources luckily some of those foreign sources are also questioning why there is this insulation from the very local LGBT body politic that is to be served and represented?

The attacks for July have not been included so far which also had a possible corrective rape case in South Central Jamaica and other beatings in Kingston of members of the homeless MSMs and active cruising communities. Interestingly words such as displacement were never formally embraced when persons like myself were there insisting on a more active approach to crisis interventions strange now we see a very slow turn in how the organization ought to have been behaving long time ago. The blogging and criticisms are working but we must keep up the pressure and demand better representation.

The police attacks in St. James were not direct homophobia but were arranged by members of the very LGBT community in the bitter rivalry that exists between some party promoters thus leading to the closure of a club in Montego Bay, the injuring of patrons there and a MSM shelter/feeding facility now defunct. It would do well for JFLAG to be truthful when putting out these figures and the real reasons behind some of what has occurred.

See: Big Blow For Homeless/Displaced MSMs In Western Jamaica …..

This is precisely why sometimes the public is so cynical of LGBT issues when they hit the mainstream, I am deeply disturbed by these reports plus the ones that have not made it to this list and the over looked homeless and cruising communities as well. With a Superintendent of police saying that gays are responsible for 80 - 90% or white collar crimes and murders in Jamaica just y virtue of how they seemingly have more materialistic wealth on a local television station today there goes another dangerous stereotype planted in the public domain, I am expecting to see more incidents happening soon. Most unfortunate.

Senior Superintendent Fitz Bailey asserts that 80 - 90% of white collar crimes and murders are committed by gays with a deep stigma attached that being identified as "how they dress" supposedly in expensive clothing and having materialistic wealth more than normal in enjoying the perks from the illicit trades.

See more here

Peace and tolerance.

H

All urged to aid in ridding commercial sexual exploitation of children

Minister of Health, Rudyard Spencer, has appealed for a collaborative effort from a wider cross section of stakeholders to rid the society of the commercial sexual exploitation of its children.

The minister made the appeal in a brief speech delivered by the director of the National STI/HIV Programme, Dr Kevin Harvey, at the opening of the Inter-American Programme for the Prevention and Eradication of Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Illegal Trafficking and Trade Children and Adolescents second regional meeting at the Jamaica Conference Centre last Wednesday.
Spencer said that the sexual exploitation of Jamaica's children, particularly for commercial purposes, was a challenge requiring immediate attention and an "united effort" to solve.

"Any sexual abuse or exploitation of that nature is abhorrent, and should never be condoned in any way, whether it is by turning a blind eye to the situation, or by protecting the perpetrator in any way," the minister said.

He observed that the situation worsens when children are involved, as they are generally abused by the very adults who are responsible for their care.

The health minister said while the Government must take the lead in promoting and protecting children's rights and well-being, the administration could not do it alone. He said that the help and cooperation of families, communities, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations and the private sector were needed.

"It is essential that we all assume a part of the responsibility if we hope to be successful in tackling this problem," he said, adding that the Government will continue to improve the protection offered to children through multi-agency collaboration and increased dialogue.

Spencer also cited the need to strengthen countries' policies, programmes and the legislative framework to improve the welfare of children, and ensure that their rights are observed and their needs met.

Minister of Sports, Youth and Culture Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange greets 16-year-old Kadeem Simpson, Jamaica’s child representative for the Inter American Children’s Institute, during the regional meeting on protecting children of the Caribbean from commercial sexual exploitations at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston

The two-day meeting, being held under the theme 'Protecting Children of the Caribbean from Commercial Sexual Exploitation', is jointly staged by the Child Development Agency and the Planning Institute of Jamaica, in association with the Inter-American Children's Institute which coordinates the Inter-American Programme.

ENDS

I decided to post this as I am concerned on many fronts:

The belief that male homosexuals are paedophiles and by extension we are about to homosexualize everyone else is disturbing to me

There is not enough care nationally about missing children and orphans

There is not enough concern from the LGBT community on these and related issues

To show that we too also care in genuine terms about the welfare of children

The anger that is directed at supposed stereotypes about us as predators should also be directed at child molestors, real paedophiles and ephebophiles who are in open view of our eyes yet we do nothing (coaster bus sex and no panty days for teen girls)

Those are some of my concerns, see the tab directly below this post on paedophilia and more or go HERE and scroll to see the thirty plus related entries.

also see: 252 children went missing between May and June; 164 back home

Interesting there is no outrage for this kind of news but swift condemnation for perceived and made up sensationalist views about male homosexuality.

Peace and tolerance

H

Artistes Afraid To Tackle Issues says the Gleaner .... including murder music

WHILE THERE was no direct connection, the proximity of Buju Banton being sentenced to 10 years in prison on cocaine charges and New York becoming the sixth United States state to legalise same-sex marriages, a day apart, could not be overlooked.

The conspiracy theorists would maintain that the Gargamel had been 'set up' because of his song, Boom Bye Bye, of more than 20 years ago. And there are those who would argue that lyrical advocacy of death to homosexuals apart, homosexuality is one of the huge issues facing the world.

The prospect of losing work was enough to prompt deejay Lutan Fyah to contact The STAR when he felt that his onstage comments were being misinterpreted. In a story published on May 5, 2011, he said:

"Yuh always have some people inna the media weh seh me a bun out homosexuality, but a nuh suh it guh. Mi a bun out the Catholic priests dem weh a moles' the yout dem when dem guh a church," Lutan Fyah said.

He explained, "Mi sing it di other day at Western Consciousness, and mi see where the paper tek it an seh mi a bun out gays. Is not even something weh mi go studio an' record. Is just a lyric weh mi jus guh di stage show dem an sing."

He went on to say that hedoes not have an issue with homosexuals because he does not care what one does.

"Really an truly, mi nuh business if a man wah have 'im boyfriend, but mi do lyrics off a the situation weh mi see wid the Catholic priests dem. But di way how dem write it a like seh mi guh pon stage an' bun out the people for no reason," he said.

Due to the misunderstanding, Lutan Fyah said he has missed out on a show and he doesn't want the matter to get out of hand.

"Mi even lost a show because of the mix-up. The promoter read what dem write and was worrying that corporate sponsors would pull out and cancel di ting. A nuh like seh yuh si nuh bag a gay a run mi dung fi ban mi or nothing, but mi want it fi stop before it even reach dem stage deh," he said.

The Gleaner asked Clyde McKenzie if homosexuality is the really huge issue of our time and he said "maybe it is the real issue of our time. Gay liberation - that is the thing that is on the agenda of a lot of countries".

McKenzie points out the irony of reggae's internationalisation through the same elements abroad which now reject anti-homosexual lyrics.

"One of the things you find was the progressive movements across the world that embraced our music. In recent times, it is the progressive movement - another generation - which is espousing gay rights and all these rights that run counter to things espoused in our music," McKenzie said.

"Some of the things they espouse, we don't. And that is causing a major problem. It is these people pushing against our music and calling it murder music. That is where the challenge is for our music."

Very cautious

Generally, too, he reiterates that "people can't speak with the certainty of days gone by. There is so much uncertainty in the air. It is like now people can justify almost any behaviour or any thing".

Plus, he points out, "It is easier to bring someone down, with all the social media. They take you down in a flash. I think a lot of people are very, very, very cautious, very wary about what they say".

So in Thursday's STAR deejay Vybz Kartel's denial of a rumour that he has AIDS was the main entertainment story. It read in part:

"The rumours began circulating late last week via a broadcast message sent out on BlackBerry Messenger. According to a broadcast message making the rounds last week, a female who allegedly has HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is said to have had unprotected sex with the deejay. The message implies that the deejay may now too have contracted the life-threatening disease. This week, the rumours also surfaced on the Internet."

Sponsorship, as Lutan Fyah spoke to in his specific incident, is also an issue. In 2005, the Coalition of Corporate Sponsors - including Red Stripe, Digicel, Cable and Wireless, Courts Ja Ltd, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Supreme Ventures and J. Wray and Nephew - banned deejays Bounty Killer and Beenie Man from events which they supported. This was after the two were deemed to have used foul language in a free-to-air televised performance at Jamaica Carnival, Last Hurrah, held at the National Stadium.

The bans were eventually dropped with apology or compromise from the deejays and many of the entities are now heavily involved in dancehall.

Withholding sponsorship

The Gleaner asked McKenzie if he believes that sponsorship plays a role in the lack of overtly rebellious content. He said "Yes, because the thing has become so commercialised ... . If you see certain issues, you might not want to offend certain brands".

Plus, with artistes heavily reliant on live performances for revenue in an era where music is freely available on the Internet, getting concert dates is critical. "With that, sponsors have a big talk about who comes on the show and who doesn't come on the show, and why they come on the show," McKenzie said.

An April 2009 STAR story showed local gay-rights group J-FlAG's perception of sponsors' stance:

"Despite the occasionally homophobic rant by rogue deejays, we have seen a general decline in the level of homophobia coming from new Jamaican artistes and in new music from Jamaica. We have also seen corporate sponsors withdrawing their support from music that promotes violence or discrimination against any group."