■ Buju Banton performing in Joensuu (Finland) last year. Photo: Wili Hybrid, Finland.  (CC - Atribution)

LONDON and KINGSTON, July 23, 2007  –  Buju Banton is the latest top Jamaican reggae superstar to renounce homophobia and condemn violence against lesbians and gay men.

His notorious 1990s hit tune Boom Bye Bye, which he has, up to now, continued to perform at concerts, encourages listeners to shoot gay men in the head, pour acid on their bodies and burn them alive.

Now Banton has changed his tune; joining three other world famous reggae legends to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act (RCA) statement (copy below).

Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton had earlier signed up to the RCA statement.  Copies of all four singers signed statements can be viewed HERE.

The singers have signed the RCA under their real names: Mark Myrie (Buju Banton), Moses Davis (Beenie Man), C. Bailey (Capleton) and Miguel Collins (Sizzla).

The deal was brokered by British-based reggae PR, Eddie Brown, of Pride Music:

Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton had previously released anti-gay hate songs inciting the murder of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

They signed up to the Reggae Compassionate Act in a deal negotiated with top reggae promoters and Stop Murder Music activists.

The agreement follows the three-year-long Stop Murder Music campaign, which resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of the singers' concerts and sponsorship deals, causing them income losses estimated in excess of five million US dollars (£2.5 million).

“The Reggae Compassionate Act is a big breakthrough,” said Peter Tatchell, of the British gay human rights group OutRage!.  Mr Tatchell is coordinator of the worldwide Stop Murder Music campaign.  He helped negotiate the deal with the four singers.

“The singers’ rejection of homophobia and sexism is an important milestone.  We rejoice at their new commitment to music without prejudice,” said Mr Tatchell.

“This deal is already having a huge, positive impact in Jamaica and the Caribbean.  The media coverage has generated public awareness and debate; breaking down ignorance and undermining homophobia.

“Having these major reggae stars renounce homophobia is influencing their fans and the wider public to rethink bigoted attitudes.  The beneficial effect on young straight reggae fans is immense,” he said.

This view is mirrored by fellow Stop Murder Music campaigner, Dennis L Carney, vice-chair of the Black Gay Mens Advisory Group (BGMAG) in London.  Mr Carney is of Jamaican descent, and also played a leading role in negotiating the Reggae Compassionate Act.

“I am thrilled that Beenie Man, Sizzla, Buju Banton and Capleton have signed up to this historic agreement with the Stop Murder Music campaign,” he said today.

“We welcome their commitment to not produce music or make public statements that incite hatred and violence against gay people.

“This is a giant leap towards restoring peace, love and harmony to reggae music.  These performers are sending a clear message that lesbians and gay men have a right to live free from fear and persecution - both here in the UK and in Jamaica,” concluded Mr Carney.

In the Reggae Compassionate Act the three singers pledge to:

■ “Respect and uphold the rights of all individuals to live without fear of hatred and violence due to their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity or gender.”

■ “There’s no space in the music community for hatred and prejudice, including no place for racism, violence, sexism or homophobia.”

■ “We agree to not make statements or perform songs that incite hatred or violence against anyone from any community”

The essence of the RCA is that the artists promise to not sing lyrics or make public statements, in Jamaica or anywhere else in the world, that incite prejudice, hatred or violence against lesbian and gay people.

“By signing the Reggae Compassionate Act they are stating that, in future, they will not release new homophobic songs or authorise the re-release of previous homophobic songs,” added Mr Tatchell.

“They also agree that they will not make homophobic public statements.

“They recognise that prejudice, hate and violence have no place in music – that singers should unite people, not divide them.  They are now committed to opposing homophobic prejudice, discrimination and violence.

“This commitment is a major blow against homophobia in the Caribbean and in popular music,” Mr. Tatchell pointed out.

The Reggae Compassionate Act applies worldwide.  If any of the four singers break this agreement anywhere in the world, there will be a resumption of the campaign against them.

“As a result of them signing this statement, for a trial period we are suspending the campaign against these three performers.  If they abide by the agreement we will make this suspension permanent,” Mr. Tatchell explained.

The other four murder music artists – Elephant Man, TOK, Bounty Killa and Vybz Kartel – have not signed the Reggae Compassionate Act.

“The campaign against them continues,” Mr. Tatchell said.  “These singers have incited the murder of lesbians and gays.  They should not be rewarded with concerts or sponsorship deals.

“The Stop Murder Music campaign urges organisations worldwide to intensify the campaign to cancel these four singer’s concerts and their record, sponsorship and advertising deals.  These artists have openly encouraged the murder of lesbians and gay men, which is a criminal offence in every country.

“We call on all people of good conscience to boycott these promoters of hatred and violence; and to campaign against them with the same determination that they would campaign against racists and anti-Semites.

“These unrepentant homophobic performers are the moral equivalent of neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan,” said Mr Tatchell.

His views are echoed by Gareth Wiliams, co-chair of the Jamaican gay human rights group, J-Flag.

“This statement against homophobia and violence is a move in the right direction,” he said.

“We hope it is not commercially motivated by the singers’ desire to maintain their concert revenues, but a sincere commitment that will encourage an end to homophobic violence and to all violence against everyone.

“The four artists who have not signed the statement should now follow this lead and declare their support for universal human rights, including the human rights of lesbian and gay people,” said Mr Williams.

Brett Lock, an OutRage! member and key organiser in the Stop Murder Music campaign said that the campaign had never accepted any agreement where an artist agrees to not perform homophobic lyrics at concerts in Europe and the US, but continues performing them in the Caribbean.

“The idea that these singers can incite the murder of gay people in Jamaica and then come to Europe and be accepted as legitimate artists is morally sick and indefensible.

“The only agreement we will accept is an agreement that they will not incite homophobic hatred and violence - in lyrics or in public statements - anywhere in the world, including Jamaica.

“This is what the Reggae Compassionate Act says, and this is the pledge made by the four singers who have signed it,” said Mr Lock.

The Reggae Compassionate Act was negotiated by Eddie Brown of Pride Music UK, with the support of the promoters Michel Jovanovic (Mediacom France), Klaus Maack (Contour Germany), Peter Senders (Panic Productions Holland), Fabrizio Pompeo (Tour de Force Italy), Julian Garcia (Roots and Vibes Spain) and Tim Badejo (Dubble Bubble Scandinavia).

“We would not have secured this agreement without their helpful contacts, input, patience and commitment.  We thank them for their hard work,” added Mr Tatchell.

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