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October 13, 2009
SF Gays Meet With Buju Banton for his first Sit-Down
Four members of San Francisco's gay community met this afternoon for 40-minutes with Jamaican singer Buju Banton in Larkspur, up in Marin County, to discuss his troubling history with gay people.
According to Buju and his advisers, this was his first meeting ever with gay advocates, and they really want to put an end to the controversy that continues to dog him over violent homo-hating song he sang in his late teens, "Boom Bye Bye."
At the meeting were gay leaders Supervisor Bevan Dufty, who arranged the meeting, Rebecca Rolfe, executive director of the SF gay community center, Andrea Shorter of Equality California and myself. Also present was Supervisor Eric Mar, a progressive straight leader in the Asian community, and, of course, Buju and Tracii McGregor, president of his music company. About ten minutes into the meeting in the hotel lobby of where the singer is staying, some of his p.r. people joined the conversation.
The meeting was very civil and productive, even though at times I had to play the "bad cop" activist, especially when Buju was dominating the discussion, and we made several suggestions for him to consider, in order to start to undo some of the problems he has in the gay community because of his past anti-gay lyrics.
We proposed that he think about making statements in Jamaica calling for love toward gays, donating to the JFLAG group, hold a town hall meeting in Kingston about the need to respect gays, and sing about loving gay people. All the suggestions were rejected, frustrating us.
It was explained by us that American gays are not singling him out, as we advocate for gay tolerance in Jamaica, but that we have also applied pressure on the government and business leaders to affect change that benefits gays across the island nation.
While there certainly was little movement on his part, and we didn't agree to tell any other gays to stop protesting his concert tour or suggesting he do more to confront the terrible, and sometimes deadly, anti-gay violence in Jamaica, we felt it was a very positive step forward that the meeting took place.
Our hope is that we will continue to speak with him and his representatives to address the pervasive hatred gays face in Jamaica, and work together to reduce homo-hate. I believe Buju fully understands that today's meeting was a beneficial first step and that the gay community will want more concrete steps taken, before our actions against his concerts cease.
Many thanks to Bevan for arranging this important first meeting, and thanks to Buju for taking the time to listen to us, and to let us hear his views. Let's keep the communication going.
Posted by YardFlex at October 13, 2009 04:50 PM
Comments
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Posted by: stagga lee
on October 13, 2009 06:26 PM
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how the hell the gays expect some one who dont endorse or support their behaviour to sing about loving homosexuality? Listen unuh leave the man be, if unuh idiot gays never start protest the man show dem unuh think anyone would remember anything about his anti-homo song 20 years ago?
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Posted by: NYC
on October 13, 2009 07:34 PM
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I wonder if Buju going to say he never met with these people like he said he did not sign the treaty.
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Posted by: jp
on October 13, 2009 09:12 PM
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buju banton a idiot if meet with dem in the first place, what the hell he think he could acomplish with such a meeting.all the gays want to do is ram things down his throat
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Posted by: TIA
on October 13, 2009 10:02 PM
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LISTEN HERE MAN WEH IM FI GUH SING BOUT LOVING GAYS FOR WEH TEK DEM FOOLS YA KISSTEETH...DEM FI EASY DEM SELF....DEM AVE DEM OWNA COUNTRY MEN AND WOMEN WHO NUH LIKE DI FAGGOTS DEM FI ADDRESS DEM B4 DEM COME WID DI FUCKRY MI AVE NUFF MORE FI SEH BUT RITE NOW MI VILE SUH MI NAH GUH BADDA KISSTEETH
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Posted by: Dominique E.
on October 14, 2009 07:27 AM
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I strongly believe that Buju should stand strong beside his beliefs and not sell out to a group of people that try to force their lifestyle onto everyone. That's all I have to say.
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Posted by: gayhaterfilife
on October 14, 2009 08:13 AM
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buju a my artist and a hope him do not sit with them batty boy and cop out to them. them not comeing to him show to support him so fuck them a hope him dont be like the king fish and copout to nasty babilon gun shot mi say m16 style fi all gays weather you get fuck or you give fuck you still gay. and nasty
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Posted by: tom
on October 14, 2009 08:14 AM
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run batty man run. you all jus tryin to mash up di music. so what is someone sings a song on you all. look at lil wayne who does sing about "bloods" bein on stage with him or snoop dogg who claims to bea crip and released his album "the blue carpet treatment" why you all aint bashin them for promoting gang ang gang violence. wha kinda fuckry you a deal wid. stop hold down us caribbean people. all you faggot dem feel like u could keep us down. but not us. we always keep a smile when u want us frown
buju is a badman for real and powerful militant hardcore againt faggy for ever
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Posted by: Shelly P Alliance\Gully mi seh
on October 14, 2009 08:56 AM
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a dat mi a wonda too, cuz wi kno seh all de artiste dem did sign. first of all buju a mi artisite him BOW out now. him sudnt meet wit dem nun-tal. 4m him a meet wit dem, him a tell dem seh dem win. him no business who a gay...a looong time boom bye bye mek...move on man. look how much american artisite bun out gays too. dem so suck dem ****
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Posted by: reemac
on October 14, 2009 09:09 AM
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Buju have his freedom of speech and rights just like how you all gay people think you all have the right to F..K BATTY and LICK P...Y. So please leave the man alone and let him do his own thing.
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Posted by: Tiggy french
on October 14, 2009 10:28 AM
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NYC u r fucking idiot...Buju Banton is one reggae/dancehall greatest icon and u a try chastise the man. Anyway gargamel has done nothing wrong why force a man to surrender his beliefs and moral integrity? Buju as been doing music of love and unity for years...why dem homo a single out the man? politics!!!!!
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Posted by: paul blake
on October 14, 2009 10:34 AM
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Tell them must leave the ras alone bum the fassy them,they want bujo to start singing about loving the gays and keep a meeting downtown kingston they would kill him are they a crazy.Fire bum
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Posted by: candy
on October 14, 2009 10:34 AM
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I share the view that we should not embrace gay people life-style. I am also against soliciting violence to any human being whether gay or straight. We should not judge no one, if we proclaim to be a christian society, we all know that full judgement is left to the master above. Can u imagine a person ranting & raving how much they hate gays & behind close door they are a pedophile, an abusive parent, a rapist, a murderer or person who goes around willingfully infecting others with the hiv virus or what about persons who are involve in a polygamist relationship & someone is constantly getting hurt. Tell me who is worse??.... a gay person?? All of them are. We are all guilty of a perishable life-style. Let's forget the violence & always advocate peace.
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Posted by: Fluffness
on October 14, 2009 12:47 PM
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I personally don't think it is fair for the Gay Activist to always cancel Buju shows, what he said in his music was years ago and he was VERY YOUNG. We all had done stuff when we younger that we are not please of but we moved on from there, but the Gay activist always have a problem with some artist more than some. Why should Buju has to make statements in Jamaica calling for love toward gays, donating to the JFLAG group, hold a town hall meeting in Kingston about the need to respect gays, and sing about loving gay people. This is crazy, Buju just keep praying and keep singing great songs for your fans, I have nothing against Gay people God made all of us but I don't see the reason why he has to do all of that to prove himself this is my opinion.....Bless
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Posted by: str8
on October 14, 2009 02:42 PM
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whe buju ah do ah sit wid battyman...
an ah par wid dem
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Posted by: Rudebwoy
on October 14, 2009 03:20 PM
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Mi lose off a Gargomel. Mi cut up Buju go siddun wid batty boy
how can they expect people to love and respect gay! that is an abomination to the lord
dem need fi guh siddung wid dem nastiness brite an outta adda bout people fi support dem
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Posted by: ranx
on October 14, 2009 06:39 PM
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It would b wrong 4 buju t sing bout loving gays i would understand if an agreement s made 4 him nt t make any more gay songs but t promote homosexuality s nt straight peoples duty..
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Posted by: rix
on October 15, 2009 06:52 AM
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I aint gonna wrong buju for meeting with them.At the end of the day their human beings that have made a choice that we as jamaicans dont understand or too tolerate.Buju a look bout his career as an artiste,as cancelled shows mean cancelled cheques.He aint looking for a friendship from dem he just wants them to stop blocking his progress.
From yuh F*** batty then a copper and lead,nuh man nuh fi have another man inna him bed,all batty man fi dead...Beenie had this tune out five or six years ago and he aint getting this big fight it look like a beenie the batty man dem like.
What there asking of buju dont make no sense cause it aint gonna happen.All they can ask him to do is be selective of the tunes that he sings on stage.
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Posted by: tha boss
on October 15, 2009 08:48 AM
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i do not blame buju #1jamaican don't buy music they wait to hear it on radio or in a dance. so harden your heart and do what you got to do .as long as you don't turn gay or them don't approuch you with them gay business. everyman do what they want to do.buju just keep making good music and money.as i say jamaicans don;t spend money on music.
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Posted by: Mykal
on October 15, 2009 08:49 AM
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I am very sure Bob Marley was not Gay or did he like Gay but he was intelligent enough fi kno seh in the world there are all kind of people..and Gay people are just one kind of dem..I am not gay nor do i want to be one and i still cant understand why a man rather to hav sex wid a man instead...but a so it goes...Sean Paul state dat a ooman im rather ONLY yet he did not seh fire bun fi Gays...Shaggy luv di girls dem to im nuh luv man mi nuh tink so...im no seh fi kill gay people...if Gay start look fi artiste and start kill dem....they the artiste wud not like dat...some jamaican ago seh Buju bow to Gay...ina meeting and a shake or a lick fist wid dem....Buju is now afraid of wat people a go seh bout him so he will waste no time to come out and chat alot of sh*t to...Shabba coat bible vere on a talk show...and dat was his down fall...They seh Beenie Man hug up rupaul..did it do any thing to him..im only get better....Buju is a big artiste out deh so if the gay people can use him as a scape goat they will do dat..the time we spend a fight gays if we use it to fight crime a jamaica..trust mi de place wud be betta..yow jamaican a full time we come out of the crab hole dat we in and acknowledge dat yu cant fight gay people and win....mi nuh hear seh Gay a rob and shoot and kill people a jamaica....bit by bit wen di artiste dem not making any money dem will come to dem senses....they themself are foolish plus di fool fool fans weh a follow or dem a follow dem and a chat alot rubbish...the same fans a go laugh at them wen dem bruck and no have no money....a gud nice song dont hav to be chating bout gay.........Stevie Face big up uself big bad cover tunes mi youth
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Posted by: Diamondr4eva
on October 15, 2009 02:34 PM
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I understand would want to meet with these people. I mean he has to be a business man to make sure that he can maximize on his profits any way he can. Respect to Buju for doing what he needs to keep his livelyhood afloat. My thing is, why do "homosexuals" feel like everyone has to agree with thier lifestyle. The catholic church doesn't support this kind of living, how comes they are not outside protesting every sunday. This is what they choose so if someone wishes to publicly express their views against it then that should be their democratic right to do so. America allow people to voice their opinions on whomever and whatever, so why isn't the same courtesy not extended to Buju. I do not publicly share my views about everything, including sexual preference but if someone else chooses to do so, whether or not I agree, they should have the right to do so. Buju I am sorry of the impact it has had on your business but you know what that is how you felt at 18 or 19, many years ago. You have not voiced your opionion publicly since so why are you paying for it. Do your thing your songs are appreciated by many. Tek It to Dem
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Posted by: cleanheart
on October 15, 2009 06:19 PM
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Ah whe de bomboclaat ah gwaan bout Buju a sit down an a reason wid battyman group?
Ah whe dem a try fi do? Dem want fi tun Buju inna a batty man too?
Watcha, who want fi inna dem sodomite behaviour ah fi dem business, but mi nuh want dem fi tell me seh me muss accept them ca dem a f*** batty.
Mi nuh know why dem want fi mek artist start love batty man an promote dem.
Dem bwoy dem know seh yard man no inna dem
abomination, but dem want fi try infiltrate we music an influence fi we ting so that the yout dem look pon dem differently.
All dem bwoy who come yah come chat bout dem no mind batty man or dem no have notting against dem, dem muss inna it too. Ah dem bwoy yuh fi mind ca dem a try come with sympathy fi dem bloodclaat nastiness.
It come in like people forget whe batty man an lesbian do.
Ah dem tings dem want you fi accept, an from you accep it, yuh tun inna one a dem like Lots wife who tun inna piller of salt.
Unno ah run whe from massa God teaching thats why people dem confuse.
Buju, nuh bother sit wid dem bomboclaat bwoy dem
From you forfeit the teaching of the Almighty, ah Judgement star, fi real, an mi nuh care who nuh like whe mi a seh. Fiyah ah bun fi dem bloodclat bwoy dem.
Bless up all clean hearted idren.
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Posted by: gfl
on October 15, 2009 09:23 PM
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A wey d **** d buju a bow him a bow to chi chi?
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Posted by: sue
on October 20, 2009 10:07 PM
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leave di fuckin man alone,each man 2 his own
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