Anti-Gay Reggae Singer Buju Banton Nominated for a Grammy
December 4, 2009 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.
[...] His fans await. But will he be able to make it to the Grammys? [...]