CarnalNation

PinkNews reports that Eminem has agreed to drop homophobic lyrics from his rap performance at next year’s Wireless Festival. Organizers of the open-air live music event scheduled for summer 2010 were reportedly concerned about resistance from gay-rights groups like OutRage! who could organize demonstrations urging a boycott of the festival.

Outrage! is a UK-based queer-rights group that has protested against other homophobic performers including Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Buju Banton. Rights-based protests in the United States have resulted in concert cancellations for serveral anti-gay artists, including Buju Banton, whose messages promote violence and even murder of gay men.

David Allison of Outrage! explains that they (the organizers, Eminem and Outrage!) have come to an agreement: “We have a condition that he does not use lyrics that encourage or incite hatred against gay people. He is free to express his views on gay people, as long as he stays off the violence and hatred. He has got plenty of other lyrics to choose from.”

However, critics suggest that censoring a performer for one concert is not enough. Although the rapper has agreed not to be blatantly homophobic at the Wireless Festival, he has made no promises with regard to other performances and the content of his albums.

Festival organizers, on the other hand, are apparently more concerned with avoiding protests than stamping out homophobia. A festival insider explains, “This is a huge signing for Wireless and it will be the hottest ticket this summer. The organisers were afraid campaigners could potentially ruin the event. So there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing and Eminem only agreed to sign up when assurances had been made that there would not be any protests. It was very touch-and-go but he has finally agreed to appear. Any kind of demonstration against him could have been disastrous. He will be bringing a huge entourage of security with him but there is still the risk that protesters may picket the hotel he stays in.”