First of all I want to give thanks for Santa Cruz and our ability to dialogue...and thanks to Tom for having the guts to put in this article...I have had several opportunities to "reason" with members of the Rasta community about Sizzla...consistently they have said they are Rasta and they are not about killing...they also said they like me as a person but I know how they feel about me being a lesbian...and, for me, that has been an amazing experience...

I can't help but relate Sizzla to my family's experience in the Holocaust...people sung about killing the Jews and other people were mad at the people who stood up saying it was not OK because it was good music...and I'm sure they were great musicians as well...I know for me it is easier to get angry and blame, since I am socialized to do that...but I am committed to looking at how we do what we do as a community and on a personal level...

One thing that immediately comes up for me about the show is that it is a sixteen and over show...last year the students in several high schools stood up to address the homophobia in the schools...remember Scotts Valley about six months ago?

In February 2004 many DanceHall promoters, including Sizzla's record label, agreed to a
code of conduct for the performer which includes not promoting violence but Sizzla just last month continued his habitually violent
homophobia on stage in Jamaica...so people say
he didn't say anything here so we shouldn't worry about it...but I'm not having that experience...I do feel concerned...and I hear you...and that is what is going on for me...

Sizzla's managers have said that the performer won't say anything homophobic in Santa Cruz, so we can all go to his show and enjoy it... but what does he represent? and what are we financing? The Sentinel, in fact, quoted
Sizzla as saying that nothing is off limits on this tour and his most recent album has homophobic lyrics...so...

Jamaican culture is homophobic and dance hall reggae performers are simply reflecting that homophobia; to expect them to do otherwise is cultural imperialism. Ameican culture is homophobic too..look at the issue of Queer marriage...Homophobia is increasing in Jamaica and dance hall reggae is fueling that increase...that is why they made that treaty in February...the leaders in the community owned what was going on...no longer able to deny the effects of homophobic lyrics in their community...

I understand you like his music and what he is sayin is:
"Sodomite and batty bwai mi seh a death fi dem
Mi no trust babylon fi a second yah so
Mi a go shot batty bwai dem widdi weapon ya"
translated to:
Sodomite and queers, I say death to them
I don’t trust Babylon for a second
I go and shoot queers with a weapon

Santa Cruz is probably safer than many other places because a lot of people from diverse communities work very hard. That includes educating and creating dialogue...believe me I have my crap with my inherent priviledege of being a white appearing woman...my classism...my internalized homophobia...but this community gives me an opportunity to look at my stuff and address it...change myself change the world...

I also know as an out Dyke that Santa Cruz isn't as safe as some heterosexual identified folks think it is; two weeks ago a young man who was sent to the hospital with a concussion and two broken bones in his face after being gay bashed...so...

This is intense stuff to own as a community and as Merrie Schaller said in her response to The Catalyst this is a safer place place for queers and it is because people of all genders and sexualities in Santa Cruz are not into violence and hatred...and...that is why I don't want him to come to our town...and that is why I want people to call The Catalyst at 423-1338 or the booking agent Gary Tighe by calling 464-1212, or Eddy Dees, Gary's Assistant,by calling 425-7799 (464-7272 fax)eddy (at) catalystclub.com

I hope this addresses some questions people have about why I am choosing to stand up...

Thanks for the dialogue...respect...and thanks Tom, Merrie, and Natalie...