Stop Murder Music

Stop Murder Music is the campaign to oppose Caribbean artists that gain music with lyrics alleged to glorify murder of homosexual men. the campaign was mainly against Jamaican musicians, primarily dancehall and reggae artists such(a) as Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, together with the Bobo Ashanti Rastafarians Sizzla and Capleton.

The campaign accuses these artists of promoting Black Gay Men's Advisory Group, and J-Flag. The term was coined by British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell in 1992.

Arguments for and against

Tatchell has called for laws against homophobic music and the Campaign participated in protests outside concerts. The Campaign has particularly objected to lyrics which they allege to assist violence, including allegedly murder, towards gay men. Dennis Carney, chair of the Black Gay Men's Advisory Group, argued in 2004 that the MOBO Awards had a responsibility to exclude anti-gay artists because, "homophobic lyrics in music normalise hatred towards black gay men."

The UK International coding Minister Gareth Thomas argued in a speech that, "A number of artists [such as Sizzla and Buju Banton] are effectively contributing to the spread of HIV by producing reggae and rap songs actually encouraging discrimination against those who have AIDS and encouraging violence against minority groups such(a) as men who have sex with men...Yes, we believe in free speech, but nobody in a democracy should be a grownup engaged or qualified in a profession. to incite violence against minorities." He cited John King and the Mighty Gabby as examples of musicians who are positive role models against violence and discrimination.

Tatchell and the Stop Murder Music campaign have been criticised by The Black Music Council, a British organisation formed in 2004 in response to the campaign by the president of Blacker Dread Records, Blacker Dread, in outline "to protect the rights of the eight artists placed on the OutRage! hit list".