Comments on: Local LGBT Groups Protest Upcoming Reggae Show

By: JoshOSU75

JoshOSU75 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:38:49 +0000

I never heard how the show went. But it doesn’t matter, because now he’s got bigger issues…

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Buju-Banton-Singing-Dade-County-Prison-Blues-79170397.html

By: 614darknight

614darknight — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:34:04 +0000

So did anyone goto the show?? any reviews?? was there a rally??

By: Walker

Walker — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:37:33 +0000

Back to Back Buju Banton Shows Scheduled in Columbus , Ohio Due to High Ticket Demand! Posted on 02 October 2009 by columbuscaribbean Due to overwhelming ticket demand for Buju Banton Tickets in Columbus, Ohio a second show has been scheduled. According to the promoter the Friday October 2nd show was close to selling out as of Thursday therefore a second show is planned for Saturday October 3rd, 2009 also to be held at Alrosa Villa. READ MORE

By: greenhouse1014

greenhouse1014 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 22:19:59 +0000

ok, sorry about the sweetheart. I was just trying to lighten things up a bit. The whole crime wasn’t dismissed, but the case against Buju was.

But, anyway, like I asked, what do you want him to do? What would make it ok for him to go on without being hassled by a 17 year old song?

By the way, you might say you want an apology. Well, to me, actions speak a lot louder than words and I feel like the charity work he’s done as well as his lyrical content speak a lot louder than any apology could.

By: Cookie

Cookie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:08:32 +0000

First of all, I’m not your sweetheart. I thought the article did a good job of highlighting the the legalized homophobia endemic to Jamaica, which would necessarily interfere with the prosecution of crimes of violence against gay men. It’s untrue that “court of law, police, etc., found no evidence to link Buju to the event.” The police issued a warrant for his arrest that was not pursued for a year. And there was this quote from the article: “But in dismissing the case earlier this year, the judge in the trial warned Banton to avoid violence and ’seek legal recourses’ when he has complaints against gays in the future,” which suggests that while there may have not been enough evidence to proceed with a trial, there was in fact evidence linking him to the event.

By: greenhouse1014

greenhouse1014 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:57:24 +0000

Sweetheart, I read that 3-year old article when it came out. Words like “he says” and “claims” are very telling, especially since a court of law, police, etc., found no evidence to link Buju to the event. And, please don’t even go with the “he’s a star so he got special treatment” angle. It doesn’t work like that in JA. They are a lot less impressed with stars than we are here in the US. I’ll admit that “faggots” was a poor word choice, but, really, the gay community has pretty much declared war on Buju since the rerelease of the song. So, yeah, he’s at war with them. And as far as “proof” of his apologies, well, not everything is on Google. It’s very well known in the reggae community that Buju has apologized for the rerelease, which he had nothing to do with, of the song. He didn’t intend it to be rereleased.

By: Cookie

Cookie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:40:50 +0000

Greenhouse, I’ll admit that it’s probably more effective when people actually read the article. As for “chopped youtube videos,” I can’t imagine a context in which “There is no end to the war between me and faggots” can be considered “positive.” As for the apologies that you insist that he’s made “many, many times, plus more,” I’m still waiting for evidence that he apologized even once.

By: greenhouse1014

greenhouse1014 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 19:28:54 +0000

@cookie

That’s really effective to post an article from over 3 years ago that mentions Buju. I don’t think anyone would ever deny, and I haven’t, that JA has an issue with homophobia. The problem is when people try to blame one artist for the problem. Or even say that one song has inflamed the hate against gays. It has always been there. You’ve done a lot of posting, but seem to be unable to acknowledge that Buju’s actions, outside of chopped youtube videos and rumors and false charges, have been nothing but positive since the release of the song. Have you read the lyrics I posted? Have you found anything else in Buju’s catalog of music that you find objectionable? It’s so easy to jump on a full bandwagon, but much more difficult to actually do your own search and find out what the person is actually about. The uproar has been so loud that its distracting from the voice of truth and reason.

So, I hear the Army band was in town today. Funny, I didn’t see anyone there protesting the Army’s views on gays. Maybe we should disband the Army because they won’t allow gays.

@Josh
It was really nice to see you take action and try to find your own answers. I respect that.

By: Cookie

Cookie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:59:41 +0000

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1182991,00.html

By: JoshOSU75

JoshOSU75 — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:48:17 +0000

@ Snarf. Ya know, I don’t know why you’re being so rude. But, whatever. I hear one thing from the gays, one thing from Bantons side, stuff online, he said, she said, etc, etc.

So I said “screw it” and wrote to Tracii from Gargamel Music myself. I basically just asked the questions that I already brought up in this forum. She answered some, ignored others.
Of course, now I’m reading the LA Gay & Lesbian Centers open letter…so if anything, it seems MAYBE some dialogue could start happening.

Anyway, here’s her reponse to my e-mail:

Hi Josh,
Thanks for reaching out.
Very few of these organizations reach out to us. In fact, I can count on one finger the amount of times any gay rights organization has reached out to us for clarity or finding a resolution. We were never involved in any conversations about the Reggae Compassionate Act as Buju was neither in Europe or Jamaica at the time. The first we even heard of it was when the reports came out that he had “signed.” If after 17 years, we had come to some common ground with any of these folks there would have been a statement from us. There was none. Because no dialogue ever took place.

And no, Buju Banton was not involved in any gay bashing. Apparently there was an incident that took place down the street from his studio, which is why his name was thrown into the fray. There was never any evidence — yet because of pressures from gay rights organizations demanding his head, the Jamaican police arrested Buju many months after the fact and then forced him to trial where he was later fully exonerated.
I hope this answers your questions… And, FYI, the show in Columbus has been reinstated at another venue.
Peace,
Tracii