Posted on 09/12/2009 12:40:35 PM PDT by buccaneer81
Concert canceled after gays' protest Saturday, September 12, 2009 3:25 AM By Kevin Joy THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Lifestyle Communities Pavilion has canceled an
Oct. 3 show featuring reggae singer Buju Banton after protests by advocates for Columbus' gay community.
Taking issue with some content in the singer's music, several groups -- including Equality Ohio and Stonewall Democrats of Ohio -- circulated an e-mail yesterday urging people to voice their disapproval and shut down the show.
"The targeted audience for his message and the proximity to the OSU campus neighborhood creates a tangible threat to the safety and well-being … particularly of the gay and lesbian community in Victorian Village," the message said.
The direct phone number and e-mail address for the venue's marketing director, Amy Cooper, were included in the note and posted on Columbusunderground.com, an online news site and message board.
At the center of the controversy: Banton's 1988 song Boom Bye Bye, whose lyrics speak to shooting and burning gays.
Banton and others were charged in 2004 for breaking into a home in Kingston, Jamaica, and attacking its gay residents. Two years later, a judge dismissed the case, citing a lack of evidence.
Cooper -- whose PromoWest Productions employer books shows at A&R Music Bar, the Basement, Lifestyle Communities Pavilion and the Newport Music Hall -- acknowledged yesterday that the show had been canceled but declined to elaborate.
PromoWest did not directly schedule the Banton concert, she said, but only rented the venue to an outside agency that handles the show booking, lighting, production and other aspects (except security).
Cooper would not provide contact information for the outside booking agent or Banton's managers.
Yesterday's development follows the cancellation in late August of seven Banton shows by promoters AEG Live/Goldenvoice and Live Nation. The concerts were scrapped in the wake of myriad phone calls, e-mail messages and Facebook notes objecting to the tour.
kjoy@dispatch.com
Ohio gay music protest ping.
Why are “gay” people always so angry? It would seem that homoprobes should be called “angry” instead of “gay”.
Oh Rodney!
Oh you poor widdle cwybabies
I have no problem with this as long as it is not government shutting down free speech.
Free speech counters free speech. If the sponsors of this were worried about their image, then this is no different than any other kind of boycott effort, including ones that conservatives endorse.
Gay intimidation, it’s not just for interior decorators
any more!
I think the term “homophobia” is incorrect and not used correctly. We’re not afraid or having a phobia about the gay lifestyle. Most of us disagree with their political and court actions, and don’t want them to mainstream the lifestyle. But that’s not a fear or a phobia.
I agree. That’s why I use the term homoprobe to point out their absurdity of coming up with cutesy terms.
In this case, I don’t think the term homophobia works in favor the gay activists’ argument. What they’re accusing this artist of is far worse than an alleged phobia.
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