Buju Banton calls for Bad Men to “Burn the Batiboys”

The annual summer reggae festival, Raggae Carifest which was created to promote unity among west indian cultures is being denounced by gay and lesbian groups for featuring performers who use anti-gay lyrics.

The Reggae Carifest, to be held today on Randall’s Island off the coast of Manhattan, New York will feature performances by Buju Banton and Bounty Killer, who gay and lesbian activists say promote hate and will protest outside the show.  They hope to generate media attention in effort to educate sponsors and concertgoers on the dangers of anti-gay lyrics.  The eventual goal obviously of having the sponsors pull the necessary funding which will effect those offending artists financially. One of the wackest stations in the country, Power 105.1 withdrew its sponsorship early this week but it is unclear whether the action was related to such protests.    

Rashad Robinson, a spokesman for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GLAAD said the performers have a right to free speech, but so do protest groups.

The New York City Parks Department, which operates Randall’s Island, said in a statement Friday that all performers signed a code of conduct agreeing to refrain from performing anti-gay lyrics, at the promoter’s request.

Songs like Buju’s “Batty Rider” and “Boom Bye Bye,” call for the shooting of gay men have topped the reggae charts and have been long time anthems. The Beenie Man song “Han Up Deh” calls for a lesbian to be hanged, while T.O.K’s song “Chi Chi Man” suggests the burning of gay men.

I was told recently I’m too sensitive…well it looks like i’m not alone.