Battle Half Won! Black LGBT Bloggers Do It Again…Buju Banton Los Angeles Concert Cancelled

Today, the Highlands Nightclub management issued the following letter in reply to the request of the cancellation of homophobic reggae artist Buju Banton’s scheduled October 3rd concert:

9/21/06

Jasmyne,

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for reaching out.  I was not aware of Buju Banton's lyrics or his anti-gay sentiment until yesterday when I started getting e-mails.  I'm sure you and the community will be happy to know, that I have since done some research and have decided to cancel the show.  I apologize on behalf of myself and the Highlands.

Sincerely,

Adam Manacker
General Manager
The Highlands
Hollywood
Office (323) 461-9800
Fax (323) 461-9802
www.thehighlandsla.com

Thank you to everyone who called, emailed, and faxed letters requesting the cancellation of this concert, but the battle isn’t over.

Beenie Man is still scheduled to perform on Sunday, October 22, 2006 at the Century Club.

Contact the General Manager of the Century Club by calling (310) 553-6000.

The email address is centuryclub@sbcglobal.net. Faxes can be sent to (310) 553-1059.

Demand that the Beenie Man concert be cancelled immediately.

Click here to read Los Angeles Times story.

Thank you.

My letter to the General Manager of the Century Club:

September 21, 2006

Dear Century Club General Manager:

I understand that your venue will be featuring Beenie Man on October 22, 2006.  I would like you to know that Beenie Man has a long history of homophobia and incitement of anti-gay violence.

Beenie Man, as you may recall, in his song "Han Up Deh," sings, “Hang chi chi gal wid a long piece of rope.” The term "chi chi" is a Jamaican reference to homosexuality. The term is often used to refer to "chi chi men" but can also refer to lesbians (chi chi women or chi chi girls).  Loosely translated, the lyrics mean, “Hang lesbians with a long piece of rope.”  And there are other songs where he calls for the murder of gays.

The misogyny found in today’s hip hop lyrics is no worse than the homophobia found in Beenie Man and Buju Banton’s lyrics.  As a Black woman, I cannot protest rappers for their use of misogynistic language and then say nothing about the equally offensive language used by some reggae artists.  Black America has an ethical and social responsibility to call out its own.

I fully understand the right of artists to express themselves, but I cannot sit in silence when blatantly homophobic recording artists come to Los Angeles to perform.

As our new Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has stated, this is a Los Angeles for all people, and as a Black lesbian, I'm personally insulted that your venue would allow anti-gay musicians to spout their homophobia.  Would you allow anti-Semitic or anti-Black artists to perform? Probably not, that's why I'm asking for your help.

To resolve this problem, I ask that you do one of two things immediately. Either rescind Beenie Man's invitation to perform in your venue or demand that he make a public statement prior to the concert disavowing his homophobic music and remarks. I'm sure you would agree that we've come too far in the struggle against hate crimes to allow vicious homophobia to go unchallenged in the public sphere. Many people in our community will be looking for you to do the right thing.

Adam Manacker of the Highlands Night Club today cancelled a performance of Buju Banton scheduled for October 3, 2006 after being made aware of this issue.

I eagerly await your reply.

Sincerely,

Jasmyne Cannick

jcannick@sbcglobal.net

Comments

[christine rhone]

I just submitted my request for cancellation of the Buju concert. I am a Jamaican lesbian living in Washington, DC and I know why this is so important. Not only is this about hate it is also about class discrimination. The powers that be will never change the status quo unless great pressure is brought to bear on the entire country. Wealthy, upper class kids who are gay do not live in the same level of fear (if any at all)as lower class gays. Granted they may not come out the closet but, their world is so insulated from the poverty and ignorance that produces a Buju Banton that they pretend they are free. As a daughter from a fairly well known family with all the right pedigree that was not enough for me. The freedom of my heart is not governed by tradition but, ruled by my soul. It will be a long hard road to turning Jamaica around and these days I grow less and less hopeful of any change. Either way I commend your fight and I fight right alongside you.

Thank You for caring

[Danny Floyd-Mitchell]

Jasmyne.... I TOTALLY AGREE with you & everyone else!!! Anyone that is HOMOPHOBIC, should NEVER be allowed to perform at the Century Club!!!! THANK YOU for bringing this to the LGBTQ Community's attention!!!!
KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!!!!