European gay and human rights groups are being urged to monitor and mobilize against homophobic Jamaican reggae singers who incite the murder of homosexuals.
The appeal comes from British queer rights group OutRage!

The offending “murder music” singers are Bounty Killer, Elephant Man, TOK, Capleton, Beenie Man, Sizzla Kalonji, Buju Banton and Vybz Kartel.

All these singers have released songs advocating and glorifying the killing of gays and lesbians.

All of them do frequent European concert tours, mostly in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.

“We urge gay and human rights activists across Europe to monitor the black and music press to determine when and where these singers are performing”, said Peter Tatchell of OutRage!

“Their concerts should be cancelled on the grounds that they incite the murder of gays and lesbians, and that their performances may lead to public disorder and to homophobic hate crimes.”

“We ask other European groups to pressure the police, city authorities, concert promoters, venue owners and concert sponsors to get the concerts cancelled”.
“No one would give a platform to a singer who advocated killing black or Jewish people. A performer who incites the murder of lesbians and gay men should not be rewarded with concerts and financial success.”

“Securing the cancellation of these hate singer’s concerts is very important. By hitting them in the pocket, it will help pressure them to abandon their murderous incitements. Once they start losing money, they will soon drop their violent lyrics. Driving homophobia out of Jamaican music will have a huge positive impact on Jamaican culture and attitudes – to the benefit of all lesbian and gay Jamaicans.”

“In a free society, singers have a right to criticize homosexuality. But they do not have a right to advocate the killing of lesbians and gay men. Incitement to murder is a criminal offence. We want their concerts axed because they endorse violent homophobic hate crimes,” said Mr Tatchell.