Black Gays To Protest DMX In Chicago
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Wednesday, July 26 2006, 9:55AM
Maybe it's a trend. Just two weeks after black gays and lesbians put the brakes on a concert in New York featuring two anti-gay reggae artists, Chicago's black gays and lesbians are staging their own protest. This time the target is rap recording artist DMX (aka Earl Simmons). A group called Black LGBT & Allies for Equality will lead a protest tonight at the House of Blues in Chicago to protest the homophobic and anti-gay lyrics by DMX.
The protest is being aided by Sankofa Way Spiritual Services, and comes on the heels of other planned or scheduled community protests in the black LGBT community. Earlier this month, a black gay organizer in Atlanta began working on a plan to protest in front of the churches of homophobic black ministers. Before that, black gays led a protest in New York against a raw sex party where the organizers refused to allow participants to use condoms even if they wanted to do so.
The idea of protest is not new in the black LGBT community, but it seems to have picked up some steam in recent months. Even in fiction, E. Lynn Harris's latest novel, I Say A Little Prayer, portrays black gays and lesbians protesting against a homophobic pastor in Atlanta.
Today's protest is called "Black LGBT's to Take A Stand Against Hate Music." The problem, they say, is "hate speech." DMX "sings about killing gay black people" and "uses the word faggot in every other song he creates," they argue. The purpose of the protest is "to put pressure on those who make profits at the expense of the lives of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people," according to the news release.
Organizers also provided examples of homophobic music recorded by DMX.
DMX Song: "Where the Hood At?"
Lyrics:
"Last I heard, y'all niggaz was havin sex, with the
SAME sex
I show no love, to homo thugs
Empty out, reload and throw more slugs
How you gonna explain fuckin a man?
Even if we squashed the beef, I ain't touchin ya hand
I don't buck with chumps, for those to been to jail
That's the cat with the Kool-Aid on his lips and pumps
I don't fuck with niggaz that think they broads"
Busta Rhymes & DMX Song: Touch It
Lyrics:
"Niggaz ain't built for nothin' but frontin
Come through, faggots it the security frontin'
Get that do, What that do? How that do?
Fuck you faggot, I shot at you
And what?
You and you man's butt, in your man's truck
But your chance is up, not get up"
Tonight’s protest will take place at 6 p.m. in Chicago at the House of Blues located at 329 North Dearborn.
Comments conceal
Addison J'von
July 26 2006, 10:45AM
I must say that I am totally not surprised as to the actions of DMX, Bhusta Rythmes, and a slew of other fellow hip hop stars and icons. When you have a community inside of a commmunity, with barrels pressed against your forehead for being who you are..there is bound to be an extreme outlandish reaction to alternate lifestyles, and homosexuality. There has always been an opposite extreme reaction to homosexuality and the black male, verses our white counterparts. Not in any way saying that white heterosexuals are in agreement with all alternate lifestyles, but somehow they manage to downplay most of their violent anger in their careers and artistic platforms. I refuse to believe that the majority of anti-gay hip hop artists are totally 100% heterosexual. Often too public persona and PR is to blame. They often times not only approve but support these anti-gay lyrics so that their artist appears more "down" more "black" more "hardcore" . But indeed there will be an uprising.
jared
July 26 2006, 10:46AM
i don't know which is worse for me, the gay bashing or the self hatred using that hideous "n-word." these chumps and thier low self esteem and own sense of being uncomfortable with thier sexuality are amazing, not to mention, what gay man would want either of them? both missed out in the looks department just like they did in the mental health one.
Shabaka![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
July 26 2006, 4:24PM
Jared, I agree with you a 100%!! I hate the n-word just as much as I hate the word "f_g"! And I'm glad DMX concert is being protested by our fellow LGTB. This has gone on way to long!!
chris-leo
July 26 2006, 4:32PM
GOOD. SHUT 'EM DOWN.
Flo Jo
July 26 2006, 6:15PM
This has been a long time coming. Lord knows DMX and Busta are not the only ones. I hope this, like the LIFEBEAT concert protest will spark more opposition in the very near future.
Darryl
August 5 2006, 11:02PM
does anyone know how this protest went?
what became of it?