Gay Activists Cancel Elephant Man Concert

Gay activists in Canada have successfully managed to cancel one of Elephant Man's concert at the Kool Haus venue after pressuring the CEO, Charles Khabouth, to prevent the reggae artist from performing at the club.

According to reports, there were efforts from the Canadian branch of Stop Murder Music coalition to ban both Elephant Man and Sizzla from the country by convincing the federal government to revoke their visas. However, since then, they have only been able to cancel one of the 12 concerts in which both artists are said to be appearing. So far, there's now been a change of venue due to the cancellation and an additional monitoring of both artists.

Akim Larcher, a member of the coalition said, "It's unfortunate that the very people that are fueling and propagating this violent environment are basically being given a platform to perform."

Gay Activists Try To Ban Elephant Man and Sizzla from Canada

Canadian Gay Rights Lobbyist and the US based “Stop Murder Music” Campaign, have decided to convince city officials in Ottawa to ban Sizzla and Elephant Man because of their refusal to sign the Reggae Compassion Act.

Akim Larcher, a spokesperson for the Stop Murder Music campaign said, "Artists have the right to free speech, but their presence in Canada can be perceived as a licence to incite violence. Canada has banned anti-Jew, anti-black people from entering the country. This should be no different. "

Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada, a campaign supporter also added, "Concert promoters have a responsibility not to provide a platform for artists that openly promote violence against any group in society. We hope that the promoters will do the right thing and cancel these concerts."

Elephant Man is scheduled to perform a 12 date tour in Canada starting in Winnipeg this Thursday, while Sizzla and Elephant are both scheduled to appear at Queens Quay in September and October. However, there is no word on whether the concerts will be canceled as yet and whether Sizzla and Elephant Man will be officially banned from the country.

Sizzla And Capleton "Sign Off" On Use Of Homophobic Lyrics

First it was Beenie Man and now it's Sizzla and Capleton who have signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. Their signing signifies that they will now practice tolerance towards homosexuals and refrain from using homophobic lyrics.

The coordinator of Stop Murder Music, Peter Tacthell said “The singers’ rejection of homophobia and sexism is an important milestone. We rejoice at their new commitment to music without prejudice,”

There is also a campaign to get other reggae artists such as TOK, Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel Buju Banton and even Bounty Killa to sign the agreement. Although they are yet to join the bandwagon, the compliance of two of the most lyrically anti-gay artists, shows that there will soon be a great turn around in the Jamaican music industry where homophobic and sexist lyrics are concerned.