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July 29, 2009 at 3:33:49 AM
Eclipse
I'm A Homophobic, I Hate To Be Picked Up By Men. What Happened To Freedom Of Speech? Buju Banton, Also Is A Reggae Singer And Is A Homophobic. To Bad I Wanted To See Elephant Man! :(

July 29, 2009 at 10:39:16 AM
Sam
Caribana, a celebration of Caribbean culture in our fair city – is intrinsically homophobic. It’s no secret places like Jamaica and Trinidad harbor some of the most rampant and shameless homophobic attitudes in the world. Gays and Lesbians are without a doubt openly unwelcome at Caribana . If the promoters of the event or city officials claim otherwise, they are either nervously in denial or just plain liars.
The flailing of the arms from bourgeoisie liberals in protest of ‘hate speech’ is so very Canadian and I can’t help but feel as though this well intentioned ‘call to action’ could also be considered a slightly uppity ‘call to censorship’ by anyone who gives it any unbiased thought.
Sure, Elephant Man isn’t spewing his bile to Toronto crowds any longer because Circa doesn’t want to tarnish it’s modern hipster image, but how many other less vocal homophobes are taking part in Caribana festivities? Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of stone-throwing attendees.
For Gays and Lesbians to attend Caribana with as much celebratory openness as they do at Toronto’s Pride event (albeit risking physical injury) is - in my opinion - the only valiant and true to form (Stonewall) protest of hate, and that'll never happen.

July 29, 2009 at 11:42:02 AM
Charlen
Just wanted to make a comment about these Caribana Events that post and promote these artists and half the time, they arent even truly booked...Caribana party Events need to stop lying to the public by falsly advertising and charging over 50 dollars to get into a party,were the artist didnt even agree to be at...Get with it!

July 29, 2009 at 11:56:38 AM
Anonymous
"For Gays and Lesbians to attend Caribana with as much celebratory openness as they do at Toronto’s Pride event (albeit risking physical injury)"

Caribana is a family event. If they were to be as open as they were during the Pride parade, there would be blatant displays of nudity and over-the-top sexuality - the kind of stuff that people wouldn't want to expose their kids to, regardless of sexual orientation.

Granted, there are going to be people with shallow minds that take offense to seeing something they can't quite accept. I've seen it in numerous other places - the jazz festival, taste of the danforth - it's just that homophobia is ingrained a bit deeper within the West Indian culture.

And if you want to see a lack of acceptance, try going into an Irish bar as a black guy on St. Paddy's Day. Discrimination is still everywhere.

July 29, 2009 at 12:38:44 PM
Andrew
Supporting an artist who insights violence against minorities is just plain ignorant.

July 29, 2009 at 12:39:46 PM
Gavin
And to Sam, Hate speech and "protest of hate" are based on intolerance. a gay couple are nothing more than 2 people, regardless of where they are. When you threaten unprovoked violence again them simply because of their sexual preference, that is hate speech.

It wasn't even 100 years ago when people of colour (most Carribeans) wouldn't even be allowed inside grocery stores because of the colour of their skin. What would happen if a crowd of 4000 white people were having a party at Circa and threatened violence against anyone who tried to partake that wasn't white?

To all those who enjoy the Caribana that involves Elephant Man, homophobia, and violence. Take your party somewhere else.

July 29, 2009 at 12:41:15 PM
Matthew
As a gay man, I try to leave the city during Caribana. Those that try to deny the violence that can and does occur are deluding themselves. It seems that at this "family" event, violence is okay to display to children. Besides, the costumes and outfits worn by many I see on TV are no less revealing than those worn on Pride. I do not see how Caribana is any more of a family event than Pride.
This upset happens everytime a Reggae artist's performance is cancelled. We hear the cries of "Freedom of Speech," yet we never hear the same cries when a racist or anti-semetic group is shut down. SO do we accept all forms of prejudice, or protect teh victims? I say protect the victims.

July 29, 2009 at 1:00:29 PM
Regular 'Mo
To Eclipse: If a man tries to pick you up, you can say no thanks, I'm flattered but not interested. It's as simple as that.

July 29, 2009 at 1:03:14 PM
FamiliesAtPride
"Caribana is a family event"

So is Pride. Plenty of families attend including those with children. In fact, Pride has a whole host of events that exclusively for those with children.
http://www.pridetoronto.com/festival/family/
So, Anonymous, please don't speak for everyone, "regardless of sexual orientation".

July 29, 2009 at 1:06:36 PM
Sam
“Caribana is a family event. If they were to be as open as they were during the Pride parade, there would be blatant displays of nudity and over-the-top sexuality - the kind of stuff that people wouldn't want to expose their kids to, regardless of sexual orientation.”
Have you ever been to Caribana? Were your eyes covered? There is plenty of on display sexuality (in front of children) taking place - from the provocative clothing (I bet you could compare side-by-side photos from Caribana getup with some Gay Pride costumes and not be able to tell the difference) to the even more provocative and often borderline x-rated dancing. It’s obvious you have no problem with hetero displays of sexuality, but find anything else offensive or inappropriate. Discrimination is still everywhere indeed, and your sanctimonious posturing as an open-minded dude is – even online, transparent.
Lastly I think it should be pointed out that your comparison of the fleeting, uneasy feeling of a black man in an Irish (Canadian) pub with the vile hatred and often violent attitude towards gays and lesbians at Caribana is apples with big gay oranges.

July 29, 2009 at 1:55:36 PM
???
Caribana?
Wow, here I live down by Lakeshore and didnt even know it still existed. Go figure!!
At least Pride organizers had a contingency plan to clean up after themselves. Now that these CUPE jerks have decided they need the long weekend off and feel the need for a 40+ day holiday, just who is going to clean up the empty bottles of "gin & juice" and Red Stripe that will undoubtibly be thrown across the Lakeshore this weekend?

July 29, 2009 at 2:47:57 PM
Paul
I think the two worst things about Toronto is that everyone wants to flaunt, and everyone is a whiner. If you heard those lyrics, you wouldn't even know what they were talking, and even at Caribana not too many people do.

All this whining is just going to be a tit for tat whine war. Wait till pride comes up, and people start complaining about the gay agenda being pushed on our kids.

If people want to go to pride parade they know what to expect and do it at their own merit, same with Caribana. If you don't like it, don't go.

I lived at lakeshore.

July 29, 2009 at 3:32:20 PM
Mike
Yeah, what exactly did happen with freedom of speech and expression in this country? It has taken a back seat to political correctness.

July 29, 2009 at 3:54:06 PM
Peter Griffin
So Elephant Man is banned, probably never booked to show anyway. As a reggae fan, I am disappointed on many levels beyond the singer’s removal under the pretence of promoting hate.

Yes, Elephant Man does not like gays, since when is that a crime? I know, I know, it’s the violence thing. Fine, point conceded. But he does also sing about social injustice in Jamaica, World peace, weed, fast cars and pretty women.

I personally find him a very entertaining artist. Think the larger issue is why club/concert promoters play good paying citizens for fools during Caribana year after year.

Another thing that really grinds my gears is since when did gays and lesbians become the champions of “Family Values”? I am not homophobic and truly believe to each there own, but I have to say some of the comments I’ve read truly have a backwards way of thinking (no pun intended).

Since when did a culture who by nature can not pro-create all of a sudden become the soap box for typical family rights? Let’s face it, if their parents were gay, they wouldn’t be here! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to cast the first stone (there I go again!) but my point is that there are some who find the Pride festival as equally disturbing as Caribana and all that it entails.

So Pride people please come off of your high horse and stop pretending to be “victims” or a better role model for society, really the whole damsel in distress thing got boring long ago.

July 29, 2009 at 3:55:11 PM
Tima
I agree with Paul. I personally am a homophobe and instead of whining and complaining about the Pride parade, I choose to just not go downtown that week. Same goes for people who don't like what Caribana entails...stay home! We live in a city with tons of different kinds of people and cultures, and if you don't like a certain event, steer clear of it. Its that simple.

July 29, 2009 at 3:55:36 PM
Brian Jones
this country has moved so far to left that they bend over to take the votes RIP Free Speach

July 29, 2009 at 4:48:54 PM
sweetnikki
I would love to see elephant man to boost caribana and the crowd and make it more hype. He is not even singing in English and most Torontonians don't even understand what he is saying. So what's the problem? You need to translate a line or two from his lyrics in order to ban him from entering Canada. That's so ridiculous. Guess what, Toronto will see less money this year.

July 29, 2009 at 6:48:24 PM
Sess
I don’t understand what is wrong with the Gay community this Canada the land of the free. So just as you have your Pride parade and jump around in the streets in your ridiculous costumes and no one has anything to say about it and if they do they keep it to themselves. Now all of the sudden its Caribana a weekend for a cultural festival and the gay community is speaking out as if the entertainer is coming to see them. If you want to be gay that’s your business don’t make it ours when you getting involved with the heterosexual community. When people have to explain to their young children why two men or two woman are kissing on TV do we come out rallying in the streets to stop your nonsense?

July 29, 2009 at 6:56:47 PM
Matthew
Elephant Man was dropped from the line-up by the club, Circa. Circa attracts a diverse crowd, many of whom are gay or gay-friendly. As a business, it is wise not to upset your loyal clientele.
Most reggae artists who are not permitted to perform in Canada are banned after refusing to agree not to use lyrics that incite violence and crime. This is standard for all performers of any genre. Those who have been banned could have chosen to not perform such songs and stick to the rest. Tanya Stephens has performed here, and Sean Kingston will soon.
Freedom of Speech does not mean you can encourage illegal activities, otherwise Canada would become a haven for terrorists.
As for family values, many couples adopt or use surrogates and in vitro fertilization.

July 29, 2009 at 7:33:54 PM
jason
Elephant man was never even booked for this show. Circa doesnt care about its image at all and had many artist who speak the same as elephant man. ALL dancehall reggae talk bad about gays. Thats just how it is their jamaican and thats in jamaican culture. they dont go to Pride. Gays dont have to go to caribana. one year caribana had a gay float and no one went and the whole year was a disaster. good thing they took it out. as for clubs need to stop pretending to booking artists and then act like the gay issue is why they cancelled them when they allways bring the same artists and elephant man is allways in toronto. beenie man, buju banton, mavado, munga and every other artist that has harsh lyricas about gays are allways in toronto doing shows

July 29, 2009 at 9:43:45 PM
MN
Circa still plays his songs!! What kinda crap is this?? Why take him off the line up to play his music every weekend anyway. Hypocrits.

July 30, 2009 at 12:28:57 AM
Elephant Man Fan
Elephant man is only coming here to perform and leave...wont be walking the streets looking for gay people, it's ok, no need to worry...

And its amazing how one will go out of there way to make sure something doesn't happen and go as far as trying to ban them from a country....it's beyond Circa as a club...the promoters are the ones bringing him here...you're taking from Elephant Man and THEM, Only trying to give people a good time...And what made you put up lyrics on a facebook note from songs done years ago...find something recent

He's an entertainer, thats all, when we look at elephant man, we dont think, "Oh he doesnt like homosexual ppl" we appreciate him as an artist, period. If anything, he's mostly know for popular dancehall dances.

Everybody is entitled to an opinion, and if circa really felt that he would be any harm to the gay community, he would have never made it on the flyer at all.

I personally am not gay and could careless what other ppl decide to do with themself, but dont single someone out and tell them they cant come in a country because as an artist he tours the world, country to country, city to city...why cant he come to Toronto?

And answer this one...Rock artist Katy Perry has a song called, Ur So Gay, google it and read the lyrics...now she was here just the other day, no problems? if your going to go out of your way to ban someone from a country, ban everyone that sings about gays in a negative way...rock, country, pop, etc. For some reason, reggae is the "gays" enemy.
Why?

- an elephant man fan

July 30, 2009 at 8:57:48 AM
chrissy robertson
i listen to alot of dancehall music and have been to alot of elephant man shows he is not the only reggae ARTIST that talks about GAY people..if you have ever gone to any of his shows that is not what he sings about the whole time the way people make it out to be...i do think it is blown of of context...all they have to do is ask him not perform songs that will offend GAY PEOPLE or he does not get paid...and by the way alot of GAY PEOPLE do listen to elephant man AND ENJOY HIS MUSIC the same way i do....peace and love!