> Berria: Homofobia > ANTI-GAY REGGAE SINGER PERFORMING IN Cph

• Anti-gay reggae singer performing in Cph
• Reggae star who sings about killing homosexuals will perform at a Copenhagen music venue tonight
• The Copenhagen Post, 2009-10-16

Music venue Pumpehuset has withdrawn its threat to cancel a concert by Jamaican reggae singer Sizzla because of his anti-gay rhetoric. The concert will go ahead tonight.

Sizzla, whose real name is Miguel Orlando Collins, has urged people, through his lyrics, to kill homosexuals. In 2007, however, he signed the Reggae Compassionate Act along with other notable reggae stars.

The document states that musicians must not encourage or contribute to homophobia and violent expression in their recorded music or while onstage.

But Sizzla has continued to use harsh anti-gay rhetoric in some of his performances. Homosexuality is forbidden in Jamaica and punishable by up to 10 years in jail.

Christian Langballe, Pumpehuset’s manager, said last week that Sizzla must publicly renounce his anti-gay position or the concert would be cancelled.

According to an interview with Politiken newspaper, Sizzla said he was ‘a role model’ for young people in Jamaica and stood by his anti-gay stance. He was quoted as saying he only signed the Act so he could continue performing in Europe.

‘No one can stop me from telling people what I believe is right. I just don’t do it officially anymore,’ he said in the interview.

But Sizzla today issued a statement indicating his quotes had been 'misconstrued'.

'It is clear that what I have said has been misconstrued in an interview I have given. Since I have been on this tour, some interviewers who are granted interviews in good faith may have other motives or axes to grind. But I have none. I believe in peace, equal rights and justice for all mankind,' said the musician.

A spokesman for Pumpehuset said the statement was enough for them to go ahead with Sizzla's show.