Capleton Gig Canceled, Vigil for LGBT Suicide Victims Friday

By Joseph Erbentraut in News on Oct 6, 2010 7:40PM

The Gay Liberation Network's threats of protest against Jamaican reggae artist Capleton's October 9 gig at the Kinetic Playground have led the Uptown concert venue to cancel the show.

Last week, we reported that GLN sent a letter urging venue owner Jim Gouskos to cancel the gig due to Capleton's contentious lyrical content referring to gay people. One of the artist's songs - titled "Bun out Di Chi Chi," which translates to "Burn the Queer" - were particularly incensing to LGBT activists. The controversial singer's gig rang particularly inappropriate to many following news of a spate of LGBT youth committing suicide in recent weeks.

In a statement released Wednesday, GLN encouraged their supporters to thank the Kinetic Playground for "doing the right thing."

"[We commend the venue's] management for putting human rights principles above dollars by canceling the show," the statement read. "Please put an exclamation point on this victory by buying a drink or two this Saturday night at Kinetic Playground, 1113 W. Lawrence Avenue, so that the management and staff there know that Chicago is willing to stand behind those who follow their conscience."

The news came on the heels of Gouskos' assertion to the Windy City Times that GLN had wrongly accused him of threatening an organization member. He emphasized that he was emotionally hurt by the group's report and is "against anything anyone does that's about hate."

"I'm part of this [Uptown] community," Gouskos said. "This is my community. I'm not doing anything to offend anybody ... Everybody here has worked too hard to change this neighborhood for the better."

In other news, Chicagoans representing a broad coalition of groups have scheduled a candlelight vigil to honor the lives of Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Raymond Chase and five other known youth who have taken their lives in recent weeks due, at least in part, to anti-gay bullying. The vigil is set for Friday, Oct. 8, beginning at 7:30 pm., at the DePaul University Lincoln Park campus's quad at the corner of Fullerton and Seminary. More details are available here or on the event's Facebook page.