After three years of the Stop Murder Music campaign, it seems that gay rights groups have finally reached their goal: obtaining written agreements from artists who accept to give up singing homophobic lyrics. And not just any artists: the first announced signatories are Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton, three of the artists most targeted by the campaign.
Three years ago, the truce signed by reggae's players with the associations left the artists out of the negotiations. They are now directly committed, since they have officially signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, an unambiguous text in which they acknowledge that there is "no place in the music community for hatred and prejudice, racism, violence, sexism and homophobia".
They formally undertake not to "sing songs that incite hatred or violence against anyone from any community", and, conversely, to "promote the right of every individual to live without fear of hatred or violence because of their religion, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin or sex". You have to see their signatures to believe it: Beenie Man, Capleton and Sizzla have indeed initialled the document. The Stop Murder Music campaign is therefore suspended for these three. By contrast, for Elephant Man, T.O.K, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton, who refused to sign the text, the campaign is expected to intensify.
To read the Reggae Compassionate Act (in English), click here.