US Lobby Group Targets Red Stripe In Boycott Jamaica Campaign
While I agree with the motivation behind this campaign (to pressure the Jamaican government and private sector to improve protection for and decrease discrimination against homosexuals in Jamaica) I think the campaign’s target is misdirected. The campaign is encouraging a boycott of Red Stripe products in major US cities (as well as discouraging tourists from visiting Jamaica). Red Stripe has been one of the more progressive local companies in speaking out against and not supporting entertainers who advocate violence against gays.
Red Stripe had actually withdrawn support for live music shows in Jamaica as a statement against artists who promote violence in general, slackness towards women and anti-gay lyrics, and have only recently (this past weekend) returned to promoting live music events with their “Learning for Life: Project Artist” programme, which trains young persons in all aspects of the music business.
Red Stripe Live show in support of their “Learning for Life” program
The Author
4 Comments
Until Jamaica (the island and it’s commerce) join the global community there will always be a back lash against gay people in general. Part of this globalization involves increasing the level of education that the masses will need to fully understand how wrong it is to de-face your brother and sister because they have a certain life style. I am reminded by my father and mother that in the 40’s and 50’s the rastafarian movement was looked at with extreme distaste because the belief was that rasta’s were dirty and un-Godly (far from the trueth). Now look at the movement now.
It take time to breed out ignorance, this is again the same issue.