No Twister Tuesday - Family Values and Sexual Politics are Not The Same Thing

My Dear Friend and Colleague Yvonne McCalla Sobers

wrote the column below my signature;  on the whole

Buju Banton and the Gay Community Fracas -

after a recent show on RJR Jamaica a few days ago.

It is clear that Buju Banton is not the only artist who is

living in the shadow of constant scrutiny from a group of angry people.

These people have tried to make Buju their whipping boy;
when in essence he has nothing to do with their real beef;
Their Sexual Politics.

you see Buju's Platform is Family Values - as a Rastaman that's what

Life Is All About. Speaking From Personal Experience; as well as

Personally Knowing Buju for many years. He is a Family Man.

This case has just reached a point of senselessness
and the people who are spending the money to produce shows;

need to stop the disruptions.

the song that this group keeps harping on was produced when

Buju Started His Career More than 20 years ago.
Yeah.1 Song  MORE Than Twenty Years Ago -
how about the other 10 cd's he's put out in that time ?
how bout the awards he's won for his music ? and his
philanthropy as a Community Man and a Musician ?

Since then All of his material has been purely "Family Values"

He is a product of Jamaica - and a Rasta MAN.

The California-based gay activists reportedly demanded that the DJ hold town hall meetings to profess respect and love for gays, make donations to Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays and sing songs about loving gay people.


Buju Banton and his management team reportedly rejected out right all the suggestions put on the table.

In Jamaica homosexuality is known as Buggery
- an english term and law. it's still on the books
and prosecuted today. if you get caught you pay.

In The Caribbean, Homosexuality is seen as a taboo
and representative of non family values.Jamaica is like
most of the world. But unfortunantly it is clear from the
conversations with the gay rights people; that they want
Buju to act like a  puppy and toss aside his Rasta Morals
and his entire lifes fiber for the sake of their approval.

What planet are they from ?

It's Not Gonna Happen ..

If it takes the planners of shows to get a better handle on their
venues, then so be it. Madison Square Gardens seemed to have
no problems when Buju appeared there twice recently
- to sold out crowds.

the artists personal politics don't appear on stage - their music does.

that's how I see it, when groups like Black Flag; and Prussian Blue

can tour freely; and appear unharrassed anytime and anywhere they want.

The bottomline should be that if people want to go see Buju Banton Perform,
Let Them. Only Buju Should Rule His Destiny..

Family Rights should not be twisted
in with sexual politics - 
please people; Lets Not Get It Twisted,




Gays may have overstepped their bounds giving Buju ultimatum – McCalla-Sobers
Sunday, 18 October 2009

Buju Banton.Human rights activist Yvonne McCalla Sobers is contending that the overseas gay community may have overstepped its bounds in the demands put to local artist Buju Banton.

News came earlier this week that Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie met with representatives of the gay community, following the cancellation of several of his concerts.

However Mrs. McCalla-Sobers who was speaking Sunday on RJR's weekly news review programme "That's a Rap!" argued that international gay organizations may have pushed too hard and may have been working at cross purposes to the aims of the local gay community.

She said she has spoken with persons in the local gay community directly and through workshops and during these discussions, the rights they were interested in were not those put forward to Buju by the international gay community.

Yvonne McCalla-Sobers.

"If discrimination and the buggery law were some of the issues raised by the international gay community I would say yes you have been speaking to persons here and this is what matter. But I'm not sure about any of those issues that they raised and how in fact these may create the local backlash that the local gay community may not want to experience,"

Mrs. McCalla Sobers said Sunday on RJR's weekly news review programme That's a Rap!.

The California-based gay activists reportedly demanded that the DJ hold town hall meetings to profess respect and love for gays, make donations to Jamaica Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays and sing songs about loving gay people.

Buju Banton and his management team reportedly rejected out right all the suggestions put on the table.