Full page ad in Variety denounces anti-gay Grammy nominee Buju Banton

In a full page ad in today’s special Grammy-edition of Variety, more than 20 progressive organizations, lead by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, have called on the head of The Recording Academy to use Sunday night’s Grammy telecast to denounce music that promotes or celebrates violence against any group of people and the artists who perform such music.

The ad, in the form of an open letter to The Recording Academy’s President Neil Portnow, is in response to anti-gay reggae singer Buju Banton’s nomination for a Grammy Award in the Best Reggae Album category. Throughout his career Banton has performed music that glorifies the violent murder of LGBT people, and as recently as three months ago he refused to stop performing such music. Last October he was quoted in news reports saying, “This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs, ‘There is no end to the war between me and fa**ots.’”

More after the jump.

In his most notorious song “Boom, Bye Bye” he sings that “batty men (slur equivalent to ‘fa**ot’) get up and run” when he comes, that “they have to die,” and that he will “shoot batty men in the head” or “burn them up bad.” His music has helped foster such an anti-gay culture in Jamaica—where violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is common and sometimes celebrated—that Time magazine recently asked, “Is Jamaica the most homophobic place on Earth?”

“It’s outrageous that The Recording Academy has chosen to honor, with a Grammy nomination, someone who proudly and unabashedly performs music that glorifies the violent murder of gay and transgender people,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.  “We need to send a strong message to let the Recording Academy and music industry know that promoting artists who advocate such acts feeds a climate of intolerance that can put members of our community at risk for violence."

In a letter to GLAAD, the Academy claims that the Grammy Awards honor musical achievement “regardless of politics” and that “artists of a variety of political or cultural perspectives have been nominated or featured on the telecast.”

“Music that promotes the violent murder of LGBT people, or any other group, doesn’t reflect a political or cultural perspective,” said L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean. “It reflects hatred and fosters a culture of violence. Portnow needs to use the Grammy telecast to denounce such music, in no uncertain terms, and those who perform it.”

Have you signed the Buju Banton petition yet?

Have you signed yet?

GLAAD has called on community members and allies to contact the Recording Academy and sign an online petition protesting the recent Grammy nomination of reggae singer Buju Banton’s album “Rasta Got Soul,” and urging Recording Academy members to not support his nomination.

The petition can be viewed at www.glaad.org/bujubantonpetition.

Their goal is to get 5,000 signatures and they've currently got 4,031.

Add your name today!

GMAD and NBJC join GLAAD's protest of anti-gay Grammy nomination

Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) have announced that they stand with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) in its petition drive and advocacy work protesting the recent Grammy nomination of reggae singer Buju Banton’s album “Rasta Got Soul.” Banton has a long history of advocating the killing of gay people.

In a popular song released in 1988 entitled “Boom Boom Bye,” Banton says that "faggots have to die" and he will "shoot them in the head" or "burn them." He continues to sing this song at his concerts today. In October 2009, Banton was quoted in news reports saying: "This is a fight, and as I said in one of my songs 'there is no end to the war between me and faggot' and it's clear."

Sharon Lettman, the Executive Director of NBJC says, “We must take a stand against any type of negative expression that encourages violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. With music being a major cultural influence, such messages that fuel hate and homophobia place our community in harm’s way.”

Find out more after the jump.


Tokes M. Osubu, GMAD’s Executive Director adds, “By nominating this album, the Recording Academy is sending the message that the violence against the LGBT community especially in Jamaica, which Buju Banton has so wantonly celebrated and encouraged in his music, is not worthy of condemnation, and that protecting our lives is of little importance.”

GLAAD urges community members and allies to protest Buju Baton’s Grammy Nomination and tell Recording Academy members to not support his nomination. The petition can be found at www.glaad.org/bujubantonpetition.

On Wednesday the Recording Academy released the following statement to GLAAD.

The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Awards have a long history of supporting freedom of speech and creative expression, and of supporting artists and the music they create. Artists of a variety of political or cultural perspectives have been nominated or featured on the telecast, despite protests and backlash. The Academy acknowledges that there are very strong and diverse opinions on many issues and in many instances, we have helped initiate dialogue on matters that require education and further discussion. It takes tolerance to teach tolerance, and it is through dialogue and debate that social discovery may occur. The GRAMMY Awards is a celebration and recognition of outstanding musical achievement by music makers, regardless of politics, and that will continue to be our mission.

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios issued the following response:

"While we appreciate the Recording Academy issuing a response, we firmly disagree with their justification for nominating Buju Banton for a Grammy Award. Advocating the murder of gay people is not a ‘political or cultural perspective.’ We urge Recording Academy members NOT to support Buju Banton's nomination. Ignoring his continued promotion of brutality against gay people sends a message that violence against our community is OK.”