Three term U.S. Senator from Connecticut Joseph Lieberman has lost his Democratic primary bid for re-election to challenger Ned Lamont by some 10,000 votes, in a hotly contested and carefully watched race that may prove to be a referendum on the Bush Administration and the unpopular war in Iraq.
Lamont, a wealthy cable executive, struck a chord with Connecticut voters by criticizing Lieberman’s support for the invasion of Iraq and his soft stance on other Bush policies. He took close to 52 percent of the votes, carrying many of the state’s smaller towns.
Lamont’s victory is widely believed to a bad omen for Democrats across the country who supported the war. It may signal a trend to turn out those incumbents and replace them with more moderate or progressive candidates.
Lieberman however has vowed to stay in the general election, running as an independent, which could split the Democratic vote in the fall and enable a Republican to win the seat.
We think Joe Lieberman should recognize the handwriting on the wall and graciously step aside. Not only are the winds of change in the air, but they need to be. The opportunity to shift the balance of power in both halls of Congress away from the GOP is within reach and Connecticut needs to hold onto its seat but with a Democrat who will openly oppose the failed policies of this administration.
Conscientious voters everywhere should contact Senator Lieberman and tell him to drop out of the race. His campaign website is down but you can contact him through his senate office.
Photo credit: Andres Duque
A press conference organized by an ad hoc coalition of Black and Latin gay bloggers, Caribbean activists, HIV/AIDS service providers and anti-violence workers went on as scheduled Thursday morning in New York. Called to protest the inclusion of homophobic Jamaican dancehall artists Beenie Man and TOK on the list of performers at a proposed HIV/AIDS benefit concert sponsored by the music industry charitable group, LIFEbeat. Wednesday afternoon, LIFEbeat issued a statement canceling the concert, scheduled for next Tuesday, but in their statement, they still failed to recognize and admit their own shortcomings in the planning and execution of this event, nor did they fully comprehend the reasons for the public outrage.
Yours truly attended the media event as a representative of the blogger coalition (I’m in the lime green shirt in the photo), however other bloggers have already provided comprehensive coverage of what took place. These accounts also include the latest statement issued by LIFEbeat, which we all feel now opens the door for a more constructive dialogue to take place. It was always our intention to help LIFEbeat understand the importance of doing their work with greater sensitivity to the needs of those most affected by HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and elsewhere.
Recapping the day’s and week’s events:
Keith Boykin “Black Gays Hold Press Conference; LIFEbeat Issues New Statement” link
Andres Duque “Photos: Press conference outside LIFEbeat’s offices this morning” link
More of Andres’ photos (Do not use without permission) link
Andre Lancaster “Black Bloggers and Activists Speak Out at Press Conference” link
John Keene “Press Conference @ LIFEbeat Offices” link
Frank Leon Roberts “A Critical Timeline” link
The events of the past 48 hours have been exhilarating to say the least.
While readers have followed the story of the ill-fated decision to include homophobic Jamaican dancehall performers Beenie Man and TOK in an HIV/AIDS prevention concert sponsored by LIFEbeat, the music industry group that raises money for AIDS causes, and the fallout that resulted when Black and Black gay bloggers organized by Keith Boykin rose up in opposition, behind the scenes was a flurry of grassroots organizing and communication I haven’t experienced since my college days. But let’s get to what has resulted.
This afternoon, LIFEbeat issued the following statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Jody L Miller/JLM PR, INC
212 431 5227 (Work)
917 770 3970 (Cell)
jody@jlmpr.com
LIFEBEAT STATEMENT:
LIFEbeat – The Music Industry Fights AIDS, has collectively decided to cancel its Reggae Gold Live concert, scheduled for Tuesday, July 18 at New York’s Webster Hall. While the organization’s staff and board believe very strongly in the positive purpose and intention of this event, the possibility of violence at the concert from the firestorm incited by a select group of activists makes canceling the event the only responsible action. Dialogue is important and LIFEbeat’s staff and board respect the opinions of those who came forward to make their feelings known. We have always and will continue to support the GLBT community. It is very unfortunate, however, that the intended good that could result from bringing this community together around this potentially ground breaking event will not be realized. The Caribbean American community needs our help in bringing attention to this unspoken and often stigmatized illness. We hope in the wake of this decision that those who came forward and spoke out will now come forward again to do something positive for the Caribbean American community and help bring attention to the devastation this disease has wreaked in that community so awareness, prevention and healing can follow.
A more disingenuous statement you aren’t likely to read. Nowhere do they acknowledge their own failure to understand the community they were attempting to reach. Nowhere do they acknowledge the stupidity of inviting to perform known homophobes who have openly sung lyrics calling for mutilation and murder of gays, and by whose actions mutilations and murders of gays have actually occurred on the island of Jamaica. Nowhere do they recognize that had they bothered to step outside their own lofty corner offices and spoken with real people affected by HIV/AIDS, they might have been able to head off all of this mess.
Instead, they make suggestions that the cancellation was precipitated by the actions of a “select group.” That select group, in fact, numbered in the hundreds, was international in its outrage, and included folks from all walks of life. They use the age old tactic of hinting that violence might have taken place if the event had gone on. BULLSHIT. In short, they refuse to accept the full blame for screwing this whole event up in the first place by their own mismanagement.
A coalition of Caribbean American activists have also been actively working behind the scenes on this issue and released the text of a letter of their own shortly afterwards.
John Canelli
Executive Director
LIFEbeat
630 Ninth Avenue: Suite 1010
New York, NY 10036
Mr. Canelli:
LIFEbeat’s deliberate decision to have Jamaican artists Beenie Man and TOK headline your July 18 “Hearts & Voices” benefit concert has already provoked the outrage of many. As you are well aware, these are two of the most protested Caribbean artists as a result of virulently homophobic lyrics in their recent music that calls for the mutilation, murder or genocide of Gay and Lesbian people. Homophobia causes AIDS, and LIFEbeat’s decision to showcase these artists undermines Caribbean HIV prevention efforts. The offensiveness and disregard of this action towards a Caribbean community whose vulnerability and stigmatization are at the core of its risk for HIV, and the bad faith it creates for LIFEbeat and its work, undermine any possible benefit inclusion of those artists might have.
Your response to the harm your action does Caribbean GLBT communities, who are disproportionately affected by HIV, needs to go significantly beyond current calls for cancellation of these two acts. As Caribbean community leaders and activists diverse in race, gender and sexual orientation, we have come together to insist that LIFEbeat organize a new concert targeting our communities, this one with a distinctly GLBT-affirming message and artists. This would be consistent with your mission to use the power of music in the healing work of fighting HIV. We are also demanding that you apply the proceeds of such an event towards the fight against homophobia in Jamaica, by contributing them to the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, AllSexuals & Gays.
We strongly believe these are minimal measures and first steps LIFEbeat must take to undo the damage you have done to HIV prevention for one of the most vulnerable Caribbean populations. We will continue to mobilize Caribbean stakeholders around this effort and to collaborate with you in accomplishing these goals.
Finally, the community of Black gay bloggers released the following to the press:
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Jasmyne Cannick, jcannick@sbcglobal.net
Colin Robinson, 917-482-9014
Keith Boykin, keithboykin1@aol.com
Black Gay Bloggers Win Victory; LIFEbeat Cancels Anti-Gay AIDS Concert
Los Angeles/New York (July 12, 2006) –Black lesbian and gay bloggers are declaring a small victory in the fight against homophobia today.
After a 48 hour protest against LIFEbeat, the music industry’s AIDS organization, and its decision to use homophobic reggae artists Beenie Man and TOK, LIFEbeat today released a statement that it is canceling its concert. LIFEbeat cited “the possibility of violence” as the reason for canceling the concert and not the use of anti-gay reggae artists.
“While we are extremely pleased that our efforts paid off, we want to make it perfectly clear to LIFEbeat and others, that no threats of violence were ever made against LIFEbeat’s staff and board of directors, nor the concert,” commented Jasmyne Cannick, activist and blogger. “Our campaign was simply to educate LIFEbeat about the history of the performers that they choose and to make them aware of the recent murders of gay people in the Caribbean. We did this through emails, blogging, phone calls, and faxes from all over the world.”
Author Keith Boykin added, “LIFEbeat still fails to address the issue of homophobia and its connection to the spread of HIV/AIDS.” He continues, “While we support the mission of LIFEbeat to educate our youth about the dangers of HIV/AIDS, we cannot support the use of blatantly homophobic recording artists to achieve that mission.”
“LIFEbeat has basically chosen to cop-out and blame us for their ill-considered decision to use these artists in the first place,” commented D.C. blogger Terrence Heath.
The concert was scheduled to take place at New York’s Webster Hall on July 18. Activists are now calling on LIFEbeat to move on with a new concert using gay-friendly artists and to donate the proceeds to J-FLAG, The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays founded by the late Brian Williamson who was murdered for being gay in 2004.
“This would be the first time a protest of these artists raised money for us,” said Karlene, co-chair of J-FLAG. “The international protests have helped build awareness and accountability back here. Artists who perform homophobic or hate songs must be sent a strong message that their acts are inhumane and will not be tolerated. But it’s even better when this can result in support for our difficult and under-financed work to counter this hatred where these musicians live.”
A complete list of the Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender bloggers who participated in the campaign against LIFEbeat appears below.
Bejata link
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
In deciding to cancel their event and from the choice of words used in their press statement, it is clear that LIFEbeat still fails to understand and is unwilling to acknowledge the shortsightedness of their own actions. By doing so, they call into serious question their own credibility. Did they consult any gay Caribbean people living with HIV/AIDS before planning this event? Does this organization have a consumer advisory board made up of PLWHAs, or was this a group of record execs talking solely amongst themselves?
When outsiders attempt to create programs without community buy-in, particularly those involving socially marginalized populations like gays and people living with HIV/AIDS, you are bound to face resistence. Let us hope that in the future LIFEbeat will expand the circle of voices they listen to before attempting to offer what they think is best for the community.
The press conference scheduled for Thursday will go on as planned. Blogger activists, Caribbean groups, the HIV/AIDS community and elected officials, will all be in attendance.
ADDENDUM
The New York AIDS Coalition, a state-wide association of HIV/AIDS service providers, also issued a press release with their views on the event and its cancellation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 12, 2006
CONTACT: Joey Pressley, Executive Director
(212) 629-3075
NEW YORK AIDS COALITION EXPRESSES RELIEF THAT LIFEBEAT
HAS CHOSEN TO CANCEL REGGAE GOLD;
EVENT WOULD HAVE HIGHLIGHTED MUSICIANS WHO
PROMOTE VIOLENCE TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALS
New York, NY – The New York AIDS Coalition (NYAC) expresses relief that LIFEbeat has chosen to cancel “Reggae Gold”, a music event that would have included two musicians who have a track record of dangerously homophobic music lyrics. The artists, BeenieMan and TOK, have songs that contain lyrics calling for the mutilation, murder and genocide of gays and lesbians. The event was scheduled for July 18, 2006 at Webster Hall.
While LIFEbeat “did the right thing” and canceled an event that would have given a platform and audience for musicians who promote violence and discrimination towards gays and lesbians, LIFEbeat did not cancel the event graciously. Instead, LIFEbeat chose to blame AIDS advocates for the cancellation, issuing a statement that the “possibility of violence” was the reason for cancellation. NYAC is not aware of any threats of violence and is deeply saddened by LIFEbeat’s decision to blame the AIDS community. In reality, public outrage at LIFEbeat’s decision to invite homophobic musicians to perform placed pressure on LIFEbeat take action.
NYAC Executive Director Joey Pressley stated, “LIFEbeat has a reputation as an organization that is helping to reduce HIV stigma and raise awareness, particularly among young adults, about the risks of HIV. I am thankful that they chose to cancel an event, targeted to young adults, which would have given a platform for musicians whose music promotes violence against LGBT people.” Mr. Pressley went on to state, “Homophobia and stigma continue to be major factors contributing to the transmission of HIV/AIDS and have no place in an event dedicated to raising awareness of HIV. We welcome the opportunity to work with LIFEbeat and to have an honest conversation about the role of homophobia in contributing to HIV infection.”
According to the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS,) homophobia is a significant cause of HIV infection. As stated in their 2006 annual report on the global AIDS epidemic: “Vulnerability to HIV infection is dramatically increased where sex between men is criminalized. In Jamaica, men having sex with men can be convicted of a crime and sentenced to jail.” The report goes on to state, “Criminalization and homophobia severely limit the ability of many men who have sex with men to access HIV prevention information, commodities and treatment and care. Faced with legal or social sanctions, men having sex with men are either excluded from, or exclude themselves from, sexual health and welfare agencies because they fear being identified as homosexual.” In addition, other groups such as Human Rights Watch have documented the direct relationship between homophobia and HIV transmission, such as a report they issued on homophobia in Jamaica and its ties to HIV infection.
”LIFEbeat would have sent the wrong message to gays and lesbians everywhere had they chosen to organize an event where musicians who advocate violence towards homosexuals were given a forum to promote their music. While I am glad that they chose to cancel the event, I am also somewhat troubled that they chose to place blame on AIDS advocates for their decision to cancel the event. The AIDS community was merely challenging their selection of two notorious gay bashers for their HIV awareness concert ”, stated Joey Pressley.
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
