Last week, concert promoters AEG and Live Nation announced they were canceling seven shows by Buju Banton, the Jamaican reggae artist who sang about killing gays in his song “Boom Bye Bye. ” Many believed the Philadelphia kickoff was among the canceled dates.
Bloggers and even The New York Times reported it, citing a Los Angeles Times article.
Not so fast. Instead, six tour dates were canceled — Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Dallas and Houston — and Philadelphia is still slated to move forward, but without the backing of partner AEG.
For the Philadelphia show, AEG was working with a local promoter, Jamaican Dave, to put on the show. Though AEG pulled out, Jamaican Dave is, at press time, still committed to host the show.
While LGBT advocates in Los Angeles have been vocal in their opposition to Banton’s appearance, as well as their victory in the cancellations, Philadelphia residents haven’t made much noise.
Over the past several years, Banton has drawn the ire of gay-rights activists, who have successfully advocated for the cancellation of past shows in New York and L.A.
In 2007, activists had pushed for Banton and other artists to commit to not making homophobic statements in public, release new homophobic songs or authorize the re-release of previous homophobic songs. Though he reportedly signed “The Reggae Compassion Act” — and an Internet search turns up a scanned copy — he later denied it was his signature.
In 2006, Banton was acquitted of being part of a group that had attacked six men believed to be gay in Kingston for lack of evidence.
Jamaican dancehall and reggae artists have long had a reputation as homophobic and for inciting violence — particularly mob attacks — against gays. Likewise, Jamaica as a country has one of the highest murder rates in the world.
Earlier this year, some activists called for the boycott of Jamaica, claiming the loss of travel dollars would spur more tolerant attitudes. But Jamaican LGBT activists countered that a boycott would only strengthen negative attitudes toward gays and lesbians on the island and further endanger them.
Homophobia in music can be particularly difficult to challenge, especially in genres such as rap and dancehall — or murder music — that are misogynist and incite violence.
But more than just refusing to listen, it’s important for the LGBT community to call out artists and promoters on homophobia, making it clear that it will not be tolerated.