Not wanting to be outdone by Iran and Uganda, Jamaica has once again captured the homophobic spotlight after an angry mob and security guards (security guards!) assaulted a gay man at the University of Technology Jamaica on Thursday night. 

The attack happened when two men were caught having sex on the campus. One of the men was able to flee the scene but the other was not so lucky. 

International reggae star Beenie Man is attempting to atone after years of singing about violence against gay people. In a new video message, the contemporary of Buju Banton begs for forgiveness by the LGBT for songs that include lyrics such as "take a bazooka and kill gay men." 

So, what does Beenie have to say for himself?  

One of Jamaica's newly-minted Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller's first policies while in office? Turn a new leaf for the country by promoting tolerance of its LGBT community while inviting gay Jamaicans to serve on her cabinet. Yes, that Jamaica. Details follow. 

Earlier this month we shared with you the first ever pro-gay PSA ad for Jamaican television created in an attempt to stifle the country's rampant homophobia. Unfortunately, Television Jamaica isn't feeling the love and has rejected the ad in a move that will possibly keep the spot from never running on the airwaves.

A message of tolerance is being spread from living room to living room in Jamaica, arguably one of the world's epicenters of virulent homophobia, as we speak, err, type.

Thanks to the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays (JFLAG), via television and the Internet Jamaicans of all ages are hearing the message of "Unconditional Love." Follow the jump to check out the first ad from the vastly important campaign.

While we aren't converting your children or having orgies, we are committing hate crimes on ourselves, according to a senior police officer and his bogus research. Get riled after the jump.

Buju Banton, whose anti-gay affronts have been documented many times on this website, has been sentened to 10 years in maximum security prison. Details follow. 

Updated below

One of our muses here at the Instinct Magazine blog, Buju Banton, has been arrested in Florida on federal drug charges. Banton, who has been in a federal prison in Miami since Thursday, was arrested with 5 kilograms of cocaine and charged with intent to sell. If convicted, the notorious "torture and kill the gays" Jamaican reggae artist faces up to 20 years in prison.

Update:

If you haven't yet heard, we--the gays--are responsible for Buju Banton's cocaine bust in Miami. That's right, Banton supporters are insisting the embattled homophobe is part of a larger conspiracy.

From the Miami Herald:

On Monday, in South Florida and Jamaica, callers burned up radio airwaves, calling the arrest a ``conspiracy'' to get him after ...

The Grammy nominations were announced yesterday, and while we were fawning over Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Our Lady of Gaga receiving nods, a pretty big slap in our faces slipped under the radar. Guess the Recording Academy merits homophobic “murder music” maestro Buju Banton worthy of a chance at the prestigious award, but perhaps they didn't think this possible PR nightmare through all the way.

Anyhow, Jim Key, Chief Public Affairs Officer of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center (LAGLC), issued the following response today:

“We’re shocked that Buju Banton, a singer with a long record of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people, would be honored with a Grammy nomination, regardless of the artistic merit...

Update below original post:

If everyone speaks up, you start to make a lot of noise!

In response to calls for the company to pull its sponsorship from the homophobic and violent rappers upcoming U.S. tour (first mentioned here on our blog), Live Nation just announced it is canceling all of their Buju Banton shows!

Live Nation, which operates the House of Blues franchise, issued this statement:

LIVE NATION CANCELS BUJU BANTON CONCERTS

LOS ANGELES, CA – August 27, 2009         Live Nation announced today it has cancelled all previously scheduled concerts by Buju Banton.  These include:

10/01/09 House of Blues Chicago, 10/15/09 House of Blues Las Vegas, 10/20/09       House of Blues Dallas, 10/22/09  House of ...

Updated on Thursday to include concert promoter AEG's refusal to cancel Banton's shows. See below.

Live Nation, the promotion team responsible for Madonna's tours, is sponsoring an upcoming four-city tour by notorious "murder music" maestro, Buju Banton. The Jamaican rapper relentlessly promotes and glorifies the murder of gay men in his music, with lyrics too unsettling to repeat.

An email campaign has been launched to let Live Nation and The House of Blues (the venue hosting each stop of the tour) know that supporting and promoting Banton’s violent, hate filled vitriol disguised as music is unacceptable and appalling. Signing the form takes a mere moment, but makes quite the statement...