Andre Jebbinson, Staff Reporter

Desmond Young, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians. - File

In 2004, the British gay rights group Outrage! protested against some dancehall deejays' homophobic content and violent incitement in their lyrics.

This has resulted in an ugly impression of the genre, as some shows have been cancelled and bookings reduced for some artistes.

Discrimination is a factor, as well as the ever so provocative issue of freedom of speech. Many would wish to sidestep it and the Jamaican music industry's top executives continue to shy away from an issue that, after two years of calm, is once again beginning to raise its ugly head.

NOT TOUCHING TOPIC

Some organisations are still not touching the topic. Instead they are watching it unfold.

"I don't really have any comments on it because I think discussing it is promoting it. These gay rights groups keep sending you things and you keep printing it. The people have more interesting and important issues," said Desmond Young, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM).

In 2004, a Stop Murder Music (SMM) organisation was formed to discuss the issue with the Black Gay Men's Advisory, concert promoters and record labels.

"It's difficult. If we do something then they will say you are bending to the gay groups and if you don't do something the gay groups will come after you. You can't win. And the Jamaican people don't give us that much room to breathe," said Olivier Chastan of VP Records.

An agreement was reached between labels such as VP, Greensleeves and Jetstar Records and promoters Apollo Entertainment to suspend the campaign "after reaching a satisfactory understanding with the reggae music industry."

CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER

Chastan was, however, reluctant to divulge any information on whether there is an immediate plan of action to deal with the situation for good.

Instead, he commented on the sensitivity of the issue and the caution that should be exercised when approaching it. But there still is not a clear timetable as to when it will be discussed openly

Dennis Carney, head of the Black Gay Men's Advisory Group, and spokesperson for the SMM coalition, said the effort "is the first step in an important process."

But this issue is a clear and present danger which not many seem to be paying the correct attention to. If some of Jamaica's best known artistes cannot perform overseas, then the work of other Jamaican greats might have been in vain and the warnings would have fallen on deaf ears.

Jamila Ellis, public relations manager for the Sound System Association of Jamaica, said "our code of conduct is in relation to the laws of Jamaica. There are other ways in which it can be dealt with. I don't think cancelling the shows was the right way to go. They need to have good dialogue. Out of every bad comes good and out of every good comes bad. Music has a lot of influence on people and the artistes should realise that they need to clean up the lyrics of their songs," she said.

But, in the end, the Canadian Embassy requires entertainers to sign a contract saying they will not participate in gay bashing or inciting violence against any groups.

Perhaps that might be the way to go. It is perhaps time for the record labels and promoters to stop treating the growing tumour as if it does not exist and operate before it gets worse.