Brits bar Buju Banton from concert over homophobic lyrics

BBC News reports that Jamaican dancehall performer Buju Banton was barred from a Thursday night concert in Manchester after protests from gay activists. OutRage! and other British groups have targeted dancehall and reggae performers whose lyrics advocate the beating, burning, or hanging of gay men and lesbians, and Banton has been a subject of protests for several years, particularly for his single "Boom Bye Bye." The Greater Manchester Police canceled Thursday's concert, citing previous performances that "suggest a likelihood of public disorder." A spokesperson for the venue said, "We're just here to put on gigs. We don't get involved in the politics."