Outrage! 2 Bounty Killer 0
Published December 08, 2003
From: CMU
GAY RIGHTS GROUP CLAIM VICTORY OVER CANCELLED REGGAE SHOW Peter Tatchell's gay rights group OutRage! proclaimed victory this weekend after a controversial Jamaican reggae star cancelled two UK gigs at the last minute. The campaign group had called on the police's Hate Crime unit to arrest reggae artist Bounty Killer when he arrived in London claiming the lyrics in at least four of his songs incite homophobic violence. In an open letter to the UK police's Hate Crime unit Tatchell said "people have a right to criticise homosexuality, but they do not have a right to encourage queer-bashing violence and murder". He referred in particular to four tracks which, according to Tatchell, "call for gay people to be burned, drowned, wiped out, stoned and murdered".
Following OutRage!'s campaign Bounty Killer, real name Rodney Price, cancelled the two gigs due to take place this weekend, one at Birmingham's White Pearl Club, the other at East London's Rex Club. On hearing about the cancellations Tatchell told reporters: "This is a fantastic victory over homophobia. Bounty Killer has chickened out and dared not show his face. He knows what he is doing is wrong, and he is terrified of facing a gay rights protest. His macho bravado is in ruins."
However a spokesman for the Rex Club said the cancellations were because Price had missed his flight from Jamaica, and not because of the OutRage! campaign. Rex Club's Sheldon Atkinson said he had spoken to police about the artist's London appearance in light of OutRage!'s campaign. He said police had told him that, while they would discuss Price's lyrical content with him prior to any performance, no actual arrest would take place. Atkinson now hopes to reschedule Bounty Killer's performance in London.
OutRage! have increasingly turned their attention to the homophobic lyrics of certain reggae artists - often hitting out at UK based black music media and awards who champion the artists who they reckon incite anti-gay violence.
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- Outrage! 2 Bounty Killer 0
- Published: December 08, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Marty Dodge
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Comments on this articleComments
Jack E., perhaps Howard Dean should incite violence toward gay-bashing rappers.
shoot the battie boy murder dem
it isn't rap in the first place, and yeah i hate all that anti-gay crap but unfortunately it's commonly known that a lot of jamaicans are homophobic. and i don't think its gonna stop any time soon.
what does the bible say about gays, Leviticus 20 verse 13, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." are you going to arrest, God and all the preachers who teach this?
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very interesting. i am a gay man who firmly believes in free speech. i think it would be wiser for the gay community to record a song that incites violence against dumbass rap singers who sing lyrics that call for gay people to be burned. i mean let's fight fire with fire. don't wuss out.
on a separate note...i have a crush on howard dean. i just want to put that out there.
jack e. jett
the jack e. jett show