Gay Protesters Assaulted By Screaming Homophobic Mob.
MOBO Organisers condemned for “Rewarding Bigotry”.
Singers urging ‘kill gays’ win nomination as “Best Reggae Act”.
A screaming homophobic mob attacked Peter Tatchell and threatened to kill him and other members of the gay rights group OutRage! outside the MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Awards Ceremony at the London Arena from 6pm tonight, Tuesday 1 October 2002.
Yelling “Kill the batty boy” and “Kill chi chi men” (Jamaican homophobic abuse), 25 mostly black teenage music fans kicked, punched, spat on and hurled beer cans, coins and cigarette lighters at gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell after he held up a placard with the words “MOBO rewards anti-gay hate”.
Tatchell’s placard referred to the fact that reggae stars Elephant Man, TOK and Capelton had been nominated as “Best Reggae Act” at the MOBO Awards – despite their history of violent homophobic lyrics that advocate the murder of gay people.
Later, after being moved to a barricaded area with police protection for their own safety, Tatchell and other members of OutRage! displayed placards emblazoned with the slogans: “Black singers! Stop bashing gays!” and “MOBO = Music Of Bigoted Origin”. They were subjected to more homophobic abuse and threatened with assault and death.
Fearing further violence from a crowd of 250 largely black music fans, Tatchell and his OutRage! colleagues were forced to abandon their peaceful protest and had to be escorted out of the area by police. Officers feared they may be unable to control the hostile crowd.
“The collective homophobic hysteria was terrifying”, said Tatchell. “It was like what white racists did to black civil rights marchers in the Deep South during the 1960s. For a moment, I was in fear of my life. I thought I was going to be lynched. The hatred in those young people’s eyes was frightening. Some of them looked like they would kill me if they had the chance”.
“It is time more black community leaders spoke out louder against the violent homophobic attitudes of sections of black youth. Their silence means that anti-gay hatred in the black community often passes unchallenged. The prime victims are black lesbians and gay men. No wonder there is not even one prominent black super star who is openly gay. They are afraid of the violent bigotry of many in their own community”.
Commenting on the MOBO nominations of Elephant Man, TOK and Capelton, Mr Tatchell said:
“Their nomination is tantamount to rewarding bigotry. It is the moral equivalent of the Brit Awards nominating a racist entertainer who incites the killing of black people”.
“The MOBO organisers should withdraw these nominations immediately, and apologise to the gay community for the insult and offence they have caused”.
“I urge black community leaders to speak out against artists who incite homophobic hatred and violence. It is appalling for members of one minority to attack members of another minority. We should stand together united against all forms of prejudice and discrimination”.
“I hope other MOBO Award nominees will publicly disassociate themselves from the homophobia of TOK, Capelton and Elephant Man. It would be great if some MOBO winners used their acceptance speeches to make it clear that racism and homophobia have no place in popular music”.
“The MOBO organisers would never agree to the nomination of a racist singer who advocated the killing of black or Jewish people. Why are they validating homophobes like Capelton, Elephant Man and TOK? These vocal bigots are fuelling anti-gay hatred and queer-bashing violence”.
“Even if these singers are not being nominated for homophobic tracks, their nomination signals that the MOBO organisers believe anti-gay performers are acceptable in black music”, said Tatchell.
Perhaps partly because of OutRage!’s campaign and the gay sympathies of most MOBO voters, none of the three homophobic singers won a MOBO Award. In their category, “Best Reggae Act”, the winner was Sean Paul.