LONDON, UK (OutRage!/ www.outrage.org.uk)
LONDON, September 6, 2004:
Dear Mark Thompson,
BBC broadcast of MOBO 'murder music' singers,
I am writing to you on behalf of the lesbian and gay human rights group OutRage!
We are asking the BBC to reconsider broadcasting the MOBO Awards if an assurance cannot be given by the organisers that the nominations of two artists – Vybz Kartel and Elephant Man – will be withdrawn.
Both performers sing songs that openly advocate, encourage, glorify and incite the murder of lesbians and gay men (see quotes below).
It is important to understand that Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel do not merely express their disapproval of homosexuality: They call for all homosexuals to be killed and incite their listeners to go out and murder gays and lesbians.
This goes way beyond an acceptable expression of opinion. Lesbian and gay people have a right to live their lives free from threats to kill them.
Even if these singers do not perform one of their 'kill gays' songs during the BBC broadcast of the MOBOs, it would not be appropriate for the BBC to give them the publicity and the respectability they would gain from airtime.
Such exposure will enhance the artists' stature and may attract new fans, who will then discover the artists' other recorded work, including their incitements to homophobic violence. The BBC would therefore be effectively helping to disseminate these singer's murderous homophobic incitements to a wider audience.
It is our understanding that the BBC has given an assurance that no homophobic content ill be broadcast during its coverage of the MOBO Awards ceremony. But this commitment is not sufficient.
We are certain the BBC would not give the oxygen of publicity to neo-Nazi skinhead bands (like Screwdriver) - who advocate the murder of Jewish and black people.
Singers who advocate the murder of minority groups should be shunned, not rewarded with prime-time exposure on national television – even if they agree not to repeat their murderous incitements in a broadcast.
The mere coverage of Elephant Man's and Vybz Kartel's nomination by the BBC rewards them and is a huge boost to their career.
Any publicity for murder-music singers is de facto collusion with their violent incitements. It legitimises them and, indirectly, their hateful views.
If these singers are not treated as pariahs, the BBC will be tacitly endorsing them. Coverage gives them credibility and respectability.
The BBC terminated its contract with Robert Kilroy-Silk for far less offensive and wholly non-violent opinions. Why should these artists, who advocate killing other human beings, be treated more leniently?
All Elephant Man's and Vybz Kartel's 'kill gays' songs are still in circulation and selling.
They continue to profit from their 'murder music'.
By promoting these artists, the BBC will be colluding with their criminal acts of incitement and tacitly contributing to the distress that this music causes the lesbian and gay community.
As you may know, the Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service are conducting a criminal investigation into Vybz Kartel and Elephant Man and those who aid and abet them.
Inciting violence against any human being for any reason is totally unacceptable.
Free speech does not include the right to encourage the criminal act of murder.
It would not be responsible behaviour for the BBC to give airtime and kudos to performers who are under investigation for the criminal offence of incitement to murder.
OutRage! is sure the BBC would not give coverage to a singer who urged the killing of black or Jewish people. We ask you show the same 'zero tolerance' of these two singers who incite homophobic violence and murder.
OutRage! urges you to take immediate action to ensure that the broadcast of the MOBO Awards does not go ahead if the nominations for Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel are not withdrawn.
Please confirm receipt of this letter, and advise us of your decision.
Details of Vybz Kartel's and Elephant Man's lyrics follow below.
Many thanks for your consideration,
Peter Tatchell and Brett Lock
OutRage!
PO Box 17816, London SW14 8WT
