27 Jun 05

Activists are urging the police to arrest three MOBO Award nominees for encouraging the killing of lesbians and gays.

Members of direct action group Outrage are to present a dossier to New Scotland Yard this week detailing the homophobic lyrics of three artists: Elephant Man, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man.

All three are nominated for Best Reggae Act at the Music Of Black Origin awards this month.

Outrage claims tracks released by the men advocate the beating, shooting and burning of gay people.

Peter Tatchell, a spokesman for the group, said the noiminations were insulting to the gay community.

"Their nomination is tantamount to rewarding bigotry", he said. "It is the moral equivalent of the Brit Awards nominating a racist entertainer who incites the killing of black people.

"The MOBO organisers should withdraw these nominations immediately, and apologise to the gay community for the insult and offence they have caused."

Outrage will present its research to Commander Steve Allan, diversity directorate at New Scotland Yard. They are asking for the prosecution of the singers, record companies, distributors and music stores that sell the homophobic songs.

Tatchell claims Outrage's request to charge the trio will be a test of how serious the police are on homophobic crimes.

He said, "In February the Crown Prosecution Service announced its intention to crackdown on homophobic hate crimes. Two months later, the Metropolitan In Gay Rights

Police issued a new hate crimes initiative, encouraging gay people to report homophobic threats.

"My request for a prosecution will test wheter the police and crown prosecutors are sincere in their pledge to get tough with homophobic hate crimes."

But Tatchell's stance does not have the entire support of the gay community. Marcos QBoy Brito Miso, promoter of gay hip hop club Pac-Man, said there is no point arresting the rappers.

"You can either decide to play the record or you can take the powerr back by playing it and laughing at the homophobia," he said. "It's just as much a victory for the gay people to play the song as to not do so."

The MOBO awards take place on 25 September.

Source: Pink Paper, 19 September 2003