Capleton is a dancehall singer whose lyrics call for the killing of homosexuals. Capleton is a citizen of Jamaica now in the United States spreading his message of hate. Many venues in the United State, most notably B.B. Kings, in New York City, and The Atlantic Connection, in Martha's Vineyard, have allowed Capleton to spread his hate and have insisted to me that this is a freedom of speech issue, that Capleton performing on their respective stages is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Well, they are wrong. Yes, it is true that Capleton DOES have the freedom to say anything he wants, as long as he is not committing a crime by doing so. However, the Constitution does not guarantee him access to venues. Each venue is owned as a private business and each private enterprise decides whether or not to give him a podium from which to preach. This is not a constitutional right, it is a business decision.
B.B. King's and Atlantic Connection CHOSE to give Capleton their stage, they were not required to do so because of his constitutional protections. It was a business decision. These businesses believe that Capleton's message is one that should be heard.
Unlike those two previously mentioned venues, there are Americans stepping up to the plate, in some small ways, to stop the message of hate being spread by Capleton and his klan. Capleton and the rest of the so-called 'artists' in the dancehall scene have been spreading violent homophobic messages for years, and it is heartening that they are being held to task.
I hope more Americans will take a stance against language of hate.
Some snippets for you:
From Capleton himself as published on the AP wire:
Capleton said he does not favor violence against homosexuals but told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that homosexuality is "against humanity. It's against your mother, it's against your father, it's against yourself."
I guess spliff-smoking, male supremacist, religious fanaticism is so self-loving and humane that this lifestyle is an honor to a mother and father. I guess Capleton does not know that homosexuals have parents that love them.
If you are not a homosexual I guess you can pass judgment on the love of others. Is that what humanity is about? Intolerance and hatred? Calling for the murder of those you don't like? Nice work Capleton! How progressive! How open-minded!
I guess homosexuals are supposed to silently accept Capleton's rastafarian message of hate, and continue paying taxes so he and is klan are free to spread that message in America. But, but does he have any commitment to make the world a better place. Hmmmmmmm. Guess not!
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
"Capleton said he is not advocating violence against homosexuals but told the Santa Cruz Sentinel that homosexuality is "against humanity. It's against your mother, it's against your father, it's against yourself."
"He said the fire he is referring to a spiritual fire. Oh, of course. Spiritual fire. . . ."
ABC News article.
G-CITY Promotions are the scum promoting this tour of hate in America.
Visit the G-City Message Board and let them know what you think!
Kacy Rankine is a scumbag doing legwork to earn profits from this messages of hate. 365gay prints a dismissive quote.
East Bay Express article. Deffo worth the read -- it confuses love with hate and waves the censorship flag; but at least the author addresses the issue articulately.
From GayWired:
"Last May, Amnesty International reported that in a reggae concert in Jamaica, Capleton and other performers "sang almost exclusively about gay men. Using the derogatory terms for gay men - "chi chi men" or "battybwoys" - they urged the audience to kill dem, battybwoys haffi dead, gun shots pon dem. Who want to see dem dead, put up his hand."
Here is a Yahoo! Group specifically promoting Capleton's anti-gay stance.
Here is the schedule for the rest of the Capleton Tour (of course, some of these have been cancelled through the intervention of decent people).
Please consider contacting some of the remaining venues and encouraging them to cancel.
.
Venue of Scottsdale Formerly Cajun House
7117 East 3rd Avenue, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
.
Sunshine Theatre
120 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
.
Flamingo Cantina
Austin, TX
.
Floyds Music
666 West Tennessee Street, Tallahassee, FL 32304
.
Hard Rock Live
Corporate Headquarters
Hard Rock Cafe
6100 Old Park Lane
Orlando, FL 32835
Phone: (407) 445-ROCK
customer_care@hardrock.com
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Club 112
901 N Franklin St
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 204-9433
.
The Music Farm
32 Ann Street
Charleston, SC
(843) 722-8904
management@musicfarm.com
.
The NorVa Theater
317 Monticello Avenue
Norfolk, Va 23510-2407
757.627.4547
info@thenorva.com
If each of us contacts these venues, or if even ten of us contact these venues, they might reconsider.
Please speak-up about this horrible dynamic within the reggae community. There is no reason, in this day and age, for any human being to have to hear a call for their slaughter.
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