Homophobic Jamaican reggae singer Bounty Killer has had two of his three UK concerts cancelled in the last week, following a campaign by the gay human rights group OutRage!

His concerts in Bradford and Birmingham were axed, losing him thousands of pounds in performance fees, said Peter Tatchell of OutRage! on his web page.

In Germany, Bounty Killer's performance in Essen was cancelled and other German concert dates are now in doubt.

Gay human rights groups are coordinating a Europe-wide campaign to halt his "Deadly Alliance" tour of the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.

They are supported by the Caribbean-wide C-Flag coalition of black gay and straight human rights organisations who are demanding an end  to "murder music" in the Caribbean and worldwide.

"Bounty Killer has performed murder music songs and has ridiculed other singers who have agreed to halt their encouragement of queer-bashing attacks," said Tatchell, who coordinated the British concert cancellation campaign with his colleague David Allison. 

"Bounty Killer bragged that he was invincible. He vowed his concerts would go ahead and boasted that no gays could stop him. Look who's crying now.

"There must be zero tolerance of singers like Bounty Killer who advocate the murder of other human beings.

"Bounty Killer is a big-headed, bare-faced bigot. He has released songs inciting the killing of gay people and defended his right to demand death to queers," urged Mr Tatchell

Tatchell said the Metropolitan Police are back-tracking on past agreements because they previously have said singers would not be allowed to perform unless they signed the Reggae Compassionate Act. Under the RCA, artistes agree to not perform songs that encourage or glorify violence, including homophobic violence.

"The police seem to be letting Bounty Killer off the hook.

"Police claims that they are cracking down on homophobic hate crimes now look like a public relations stunt at the expense of the lesbian and gay community.

"A white racist singer who advocated killing black people would not be allowed to perform anywhere in London, even if he agreed to not incite the killing of black people at his concert. The police would argue that any stage performance would threaten public order and community relations. They would ban the singer, full stop. 

"Yet when it comes to straight homophobic singers who urge the murder of gay people, the police adopt a softer stance. They let the concert go ahead. Why the double standards?

"Equivalent racist performers would have their concerts cancelled by the Metropolitan Police," said Mr Tatchell.

In 2003 Bounty Killer canceled two of his concerts in Britain because he feared arrest for inciting of homophobia and hatred towards homosexuals.

Last update: 03-27-2008 17:55