Sunset Entertainment Group Cancels Buju Banton Concert Following Public Outcry

Sunset Entertainment Group Cancels Buju Banton Concert Following Public Outcry

"Faggots. . . have to die" Singer's Oct. 15 Show at Cabana Club Called Off

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Once again, an outcry from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has convinced promoters to cancel a scheduled performance by notoriously anti-gay reggae singer Buju Banton, whose appalling lyrics have glorified the violent murder of gay and lesbian people. Hours after the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center launched a public campaign, Sunset Entertainment Group (SEG) announced the cancellation of Banton's show scheduled for its Cabana Club on Oct. 15.

The Cabana Club performance was scheduled just weeks after many Banton concerts, including one slated for L.A.'s Nokia Club, were called off when promoters were flooded with calls and e-mails from concerned citizens mobilized by the Center, the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network and other organization.

"I hope this victory sends a deafeningly loud message to other promoters and concert venues that singers who glorify violence against LGBT people, or any group of people, should never be welcomed," said L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean. "It shouldn't be necessary for us to pressure promoters to do the right thing; people like Banton should never have been booked in the first place."

Through his music, Banton promotes a culture of violence against LGBT people. In his most notorious song "Boom, Bye Bye," Banton sings that "faggots get up and run" when he comes, that "they have to die," and that he will shoot them in the head or "burn them up bad." Banton's music has helped foster such an anti-gay culture in his home country of Jamaica -- where several prominent gay activists have been murdered -- that Time magazine recently asked: "Is Jamaica the most homophobic place on Earth?"

Over the past several weeks Banton, who was recently videotaped saying that "there is no end to the war between me and faggots," has had concerts canceled in Orlando, Tampa, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Columbus, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Detroit and several other cities. His manager, Tracii McGregor, responded to the cancellations with an "open letter" full of incomplete and inaccurate information, decrying LGBT groups for their "war" against Banton and for not having a "larger, more fruitful discussion that could perhaps effect real change."

The Center responded to McGregor with a letter from Jean, sent on Sept. 15, in which she invites Banton to the Center and to talk about the impact of hate speech. In it, she writes: "If Banton is truly remorseful for performing 'Boom, Bye Bye' and contributing to the anti-gay climate in Jamaica, and publicly vows to never perform the song again, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center would be happy to support an end to the boycott of his concerts." She adds, "We'd like nothing more than to have a fruitful discussion that will result in the end of such music." There has been no reply.

About the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

Since 1971 the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Our wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more. Visit us on the Web at: www.lagaycenter.org.

Source: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center

CONTACT: Thomas Soule of L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, +1-323-993-7622

Web Site: http://www.lagaycenter.org/

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