A Contradiction in Terms
Which is worse, dying from the affects of AIDS or being a victim of gay-bashing?
Which is better, inviting musical artists who sing homophobic lyrics to a concert promoting HIV awareness, or taking a stand against homophobia by uninviting those same artists and by doing so, acknowledging the ways in which homophobia contributes to the overall climate of shame, fear and self-loathing that often leads gay people to become HIV infected?
Those are some questions the group LIFEBeat must answer. LIFEBeat is the music industry’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. They have a reggae concert planned for next week here in New York and among the invited artists are Beenie Man and TOK.
Our friends across the pond in England are quite familiar with those two popular Jamaican dancehall acts. Gay groups in Great Britain have routinely protested and successfully prevented them from performing at concerts there because both acts have continued to sing lyrics that call for the violent death by burning and hanging of lesbians and gays, even after they agreed to stop such behavior.
Now lest anyone think this is just a free speech issue, such comments are about as harmless as yelling fire in a crowded movie theatre. Life for gays and lesbians, particularly in Jamaica, is one of constant fear for one’s safety. No shortage of dancehall music fans have taken such vicious hate speech to heart and attacked or killed gay activists and private citizens alike, with little protection or redress from law enforcement and government officials on that island.
Which is why we find it strange then these same individuals would be part of a concert to promote HIV/AIDS awareness. Gay men remain the population hardest hit by the virus and in this city Black gay men are the most impacted. Are Beenie Man and TOK advocating that we become more aware of the risks of HIV transmission so that we won’t get infected, only so we can later become victims of a bashing brought about by their hate speech? I’m having a hard time finding the sincerity in their association with this cause.
Please join in a rapidly growing campaign of enlightened activists, both online and off, who are calling upon LIFEBeat to uninvite these artists. Contact them and let them know that any appearance by Beenie Man and TOK is unacceptable and runs counter to the causes of HIV education, LGBT and human rights.
CONCERT DETAILS
Reggae Gold Live 2006 Summer Jumpoff
July 18, 2006
Webster Hall
125 East 11th Street between 3rd & 4th Avenues
Doors open at 9pm
BACKGROUND ON LIFEBEAT
LIFEbeat, Inc.
630 Ninth Avenue (between 44th and 45th Streets)
Suite 1010
New York, NY 10036
http://www.lifebeat.org/
Telephone: 212.459.2590
Toll-free: 800.AIDS.411
Fax: 212.459.2892
John Cannelli, Executive Director, x101, jcannelli@lifebeat.org
Sarah Peters Manager, Operations, x119, speters@lifebeat.org
Promotional support provided by BET, Vibe magazine, Music Choice and Power 105.1
Emil Wilbekin, the openly gay former editor-in-chief of VIBE magazine, is on their board of directors. Hilary Rosen, the openly gay former head of the Recording Industry Association of America, is on their board of advisors.
UPDATE
LIFEBeat Refuses to Back Down link
Other voices of concern
Keith Boykin link
Republic of T link
Pandagon link
Clay Cane link
Jasmyne Cannick link
Journey Into Light link
Frank Leon Roberts link
A Burst of Light link
Blabbeando link
J's Theater link
FemmeNoir link
AnziDesign link
PlanetOut's Politics and News link
GreasyGuide link
Troy Notorious link
thebrotherlove.com link
Woubi-Yossi Collective link
Just My Thoughts link
Obsidianbear link
The 7 Magazine link
The Larry Lyons Experience link
Simply Fred Smith link
Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep link
Novaslim link
Front Porch Storytellin link
Taylor Siluwé link
Bialogue link
Related Media Coverage
PlanetOut link
Southern Voice link
BBC News link
UK Gay News link
KeithBoykin.com link
Electronic Urban Report link
Gay.com UK & Ireland link
GCN link
Newsday link
Wonderful post.
You said: "Are Beenie Man and TOK advocating that we become more aware of the risks of HIV transmission so that we won’t get infected, only so we can later become victims of a bashing brought about by their hate speech?"
That's exactly the point!
Posted by: Keith Boykin at July 10, 2006 8:19 PMAnother link; a new voice:
http://bialogue.livejournal.com/4588.html