Make LIFEbeat Back Down; Call Today

By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Wednesday, July 12 2006, 2:22AM

reggaeconcert.jpgAs the protest against LIFEbeat continues to pick up steam, today I am publishing the contact information for all the board members of LIFEbeat. The contact information includes their phone numbers, email addresses and mailing addresses, where available. I encourage readers on this site to call, write or email as many of the board members as you possibly can. I particularly urge you to contact Emil Wilbekin, Donna Futterman and Tim Rosta, three openly gay board members of LIFEbeat.

Meanwhile, a group of black LGBT leaders in New York has called a Thursday news conference at the headquarters of LIFEbeat to protest the group's refusal to remove homophobic recording artists Beenie Man and TOK from a scheduled July 18 concert. And in the past three days, hundreds of letters and emails have been sent to LIFEbeat from all across the world.

LIFEbeat Flooded With Calls, Emails

In one email, Sean Strub, the founder of POZ magazine, takes LIFEbeat to task for straying from its mission. "Sadly, LIFEBeat's Board of Directors--mostly music industry executives, it seems--has shown itself to be far removed from the horrific realities that people with HIV face everyday," said Strub. He called on the board members to "get out of their corporate boardrooms and show more respect for those whose lives are snuffed out by the bigotry of the artists they have chosen to showcase."

Strub also raised the issue of LIFEbeat's finances. "In 2004, the last year for which financial statements for LIFEBeat are available (as posted on their website), they raised $1,073,078 in unrestricted revenue. In that same year, they gave support and made grants in the amount of $53,234; the balance went to their own administrative, fundraising and program costs, including 'outreach and education,'" he wrote.

In a separate email sent from London, British black gay activists Topher Campbell and Ajamu wrote to LIFEbeat, "We stand with our U.S. Black Gay Cousins and strongly urge you to either ask the artists to make a statment supporting the gay community or cancel their appearance at the concerts." The email continued, "Whilst we support a person's right to express anti-gay views we cannot and do not support the right of anybody to advocate the death and beating of gay and lesbian people."

Despite all the protests, LIFEbeat's executive director won't budge. So now it's time to go over his head and talk to his bosses, the board members of LIFEbeat. Below is a list of the LIFEbeat board of directors and one advisor (Hilary Rosen). It's a well-connected group that includes the former editor of VIBE, Madonna's tour promoter, a wealthy Manhattan socialite, and several record company executives. I've also listed information on LIFEbeat's staff and contributors. Please use this information to contact those involved with LIFEbeat. Encourage them to reverse their decision on the inclusion of homophobic artists at their July 18 concert.

(NOTE: Now that the campaign has ended and LIFEbeat has canceled the concert, I am removing the names and contact information of the board members, staff and donors to LIFEbeat. Thank you for your support of this campaign.)

Comments (11) reveal

Comments conceal

andre allen
July 12 2006, 3:00AM

thanks for the tireless work and advocacy that you do for the LGBT coomunity.

Marlon
July 12 2006, 3:44AM

Thanks Keith! Now – this is what I’m talking about!

Let’s get this party started!

Let show them how We Roll!

Let’s show other communities what can be accomplished through UNITY.

The revolution will not be televised!

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
-Fredrick Douglas


Patrick Brown
July 12 2006, 8:29AM

This is the e-mail that I have sent. I hope we can get some positive responses.

Dear Responsible Person:

How in the hell can Emil Wilbekin be allowed to promote outright homophobic behavior; while knowing that his and others decisions to allow people like Beenie Man and TOK to participate in the upcoming Hearts & Voices Reggae Gold concert, when they openly promote hatred towards gay people is outrageous! Do the right thing and make LIFEbeat remove Beenie Man and TOK from the scheduled July 18th concert. Thank you! Contact Emil Wilbekin and tell him that this is deplorable!

Patrick Brown
Decatur, GA
Pbro22@hotmail.com

ChicagoChild
July 12 2006, 9:29AM

Here is my letter sent to all:

ADVOCATES OF MURDER HEADLINING CONCERT

Since people are still so ignorant about HIV and AIDS, it is still widely believed that it is a GAY disease.

Beenie Man and TOK have a strong following due to their songs about killing GAYS.

Perhaps LIFEBeat believes that BEATING and KILLING Gays will put an end to HIV and AIDS.

Isn't it TERRORISTIC to support those who make their living through such messages?

What will you say when young and influential audience members begin to ASSAULT and possibly KILL others at the concert and surrounding neighborhoods?

Donald[TypeKey Profile Page]
July 12 2006, 10:28AM

Beenie Man and TOK Promote Genocide, Not HIV/AIDS Awareness

To: jcannelli@lifebeat.org, speters@lifebeat.org, apanichi@lifebeat.org, bgodwin@lifebeat.org, ewilbekin@aol.com, info@fuertegroup.com, houseinn@aol.com, futterma@aecom.yu.edu

As a Black gay man of Caribbean descent living with HIV, I find it reprehensible that LIFEbeat, a national HIV/AIDS organization, would headline not one but TWO homophobic acts who have called for nothing short of genocide of people like me in their songs - and particularly in their live performances. It’s especially reprehensible because categorically the Black gay men and women being murdered in Jamaica were THE people in the best position to raise awareness and to promote testing and treatment options in their communities. It is ridiculous and irresponsible to think that LIFEbeat can have any impact here in Brooklyn’s Caribbean communities by using these artists’ murderous hatred as a conduit for change, offering them the platform of a New York City stage from which to spew their hate.

I understand the crisis of HIV/AIDS and I know that you all are dedicated to empowering as many against this virus as you can, all over the world. I also understand that LIFEbeat has many significant ties to the music industry. Honestly, I feel as if the lives of Black gay men and lesbians are being marginalized for a convenient and lucrative business decision. For example, I’m aware that tobacco giant RJ Reynolds removed Beenie Man from a 14-city tour in 2004 due to not only to the lyrical content of his songs, but also because of his insistence to continue to perform them live. I also understand that Beenie Man has a new album coming out in August. I sincerely hope that Black gay Jamaican HIV/AIDS activists like Brian Williamson and Lenford ‘Steve’ Harvey did not die horrific deaths in order to sell more records for Beenie Man and Virgin Records. I sincerely hope that LIFEbeat (particularly the gay men and lesbians who are fiscally responsible for LIFEbeat as members of its Board of Directors) isn’t playing any role in such a dishonorable financial transaction, rationalizing a severe conflict of interest while reducing the bottom line of LIFEbeat’s mission just to make it possible for ‘formerly homophobic’ acts to make more money off OUR backs, the backs of Black gay men and lesbians who are still disproportionately affected by and infected with and dying from HIV/AIDS - the backs of Black gay men and lesbians who are on the front line fighting this epidemic in our communities.

I unequivocally demand that you immediately remove both Beenie Man and TOK from this event.

Donald Andrew Agarrat

Mikey--He Likes It
July 12 2006, 10:36AM

I would like to see TOK and Beenie Man surrounded by an angry mob of HIV positive gay black folks to feel the terror that they subject us to with their hate filled songs. Then WE can have a benefit!!

Emanuel Xavier
July 12 2006, 10:52AM

I may not be black or an active member of the blog community, but strongly feel that the decision on the part of LIFEbeat to feature openly homophobic acts in our city is an issue which all of New York needs to question and respond to. As someone who recently survived a brutal beating at the hands of ignorance, I urge all New Yorkers to seriously consider if we want to welcome artists which spread a message of hate and intolerance to be celebrated at our venues. I am not particularly a fan of reggae music but, even if I was, the incident I survived left me with permanent hearing loss in my right ear. Many others victims of hate crimes have not been as fortunate on these streets of the greatest city in the universe. United, regardless of color, sexual preference, religion, etc. we could make a real difference and once again reclaim our streets as free for all of us.

Michael-Vincent Crea
July 12 2006, 12:30PM

Peace to ALL!

Having made calls to gay Lifebeat board members, as well, as Cannelli, to express my outrage on hosting Beenie Man and TOK, advocates for death and annihilation of our members of Humanity, most especially, we who are same-gender loving persons, I began calling more board members.

Mr. Daniel Glass, CEO and Artimus Records President, as I told of my outrage such death threatening performers would even be considered, told me "I assure you, you will be very happy...we have dealt with this all night..." now, at 12:15pm.

We must continue to investigate finanicial malfeasance and the make-up of the board, otherwise, Beenie Man & TOK's cancellation leaves us with LIFEbeat, like 'Phillip Morris,' Corporate PIMPS of PWAs: D.O.A. Death on Arrival! Disgrazia!

Toph
July 12 2006, 12:45PM

Strub's issue of the financial question is actually misleading, according to those financial statements the total amount LIFEbeat spent on Program Services is $629,670. I don't see how that constitutes financial malfeasance.

Let's keep our heads here. Keep up the pressure to cancel the concert, but let's not attack an organization that is trying to educate people about the very real issue of HIV/AIDS in this country.

Riko
July 12 2006, 1:54PM

A letter to LIFE Beat:

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-Z6Nyp3w6cqhwKB5iWd3YKA--?cq=1&p=42

Rick W.
July 13 2006, 12:01PM

REGGAE CONCERT CANCELED DUE TO BLOG: Black gay bloggers foil LIFEbeat Reggae Gold concert.
July 13, 2006

*LIFEbeat Reggae Gold, the reggae concert established to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, came under fire from 27 black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender bloggers and activists who were quite incensed about the fact that the show’s lineup included two artists they consider to be anti-gay.

The bloggers sent notice to the concert's organizer, LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS, to drop Jamaican dancehall artists Beenie Man and the group T.O.K. or force them to publicly denounce controversial lyrics in their songs. Organizer’s have instead completely canceled the July 18th event.

Protesters called the inclusion of these artists "outrageous, insulting and unbelievable" incited by the contention that these artists encouraged murdering gays and lesbians.

Beenie Man and T.O.K. have released songs that speak negatively of gays. The Beenie Man song "Han Up Deh"


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