More than 1,500 New Yorkers gathered today in Manhattan to mourn the death of a 32 year-old gay man, who was shot down on Friday just blocks away from the historic Stonewall Inn in an apparent act of anti-gay bias.
Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton Nominated for a Grammy
Friday, December 4, 2009 - 6:51pm by Jonathan Rosales, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Manager
In an unfortunate update to yesterday's post regarding Lady Gaga's five Grammy nominations, it should also be noted that Buju Banton, the reggae artist who has famously advocated violence against the LGBT community, was nominated for Best Reggae Album.
Earlier this year, a series of Buju Banton concerts in the U.S. were canceled after protests from the LGBT community. Despite meeting with LGBT leaders in San Francisco in October, Banton later claimed that "there is no end to the war between me and f****t."
While we are disappointed that the Recording Academy has chosen to honor Banton's album, "Rasta Got Soul," with a nomination the highest honor in music, we are hopeful that the Grammy voters will chose to bestow the Grammy for Best Reggae Album on one of the other nominees who manage to record reggae that does not condone hate.