Who is the gay reggae artist? There was a time not too long ago when the answer to that question would be an astounding “NO ONE”, even if there were reggae artists walking around with doo-doo stains on the back and front of their underwear.
With Reggae Music’s close ties to the Rastafari Movement, the genre and the homosexual community have been at odds with each other for quite some time. If fact, back in the 1990s when artists like Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton lashed out against homosexuality, the thought was that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than to ever see a gay reggae artist. In fact, the gay community actually labelled reggae as “murder music”
Whether it is for better or for worse depends on whom you ask but one thing is for sure, times are a changing. This week, Jamaican artist, Dalton Harris, came out of the closet and admitted what many have suspected ever since he was a contestant on The X Factor and subsequently won the competition.
After admitting to his sexual preference, Harris also had words for those who accused him of acting too feminine. The Power of love singer posted the following on his Twitter:
“FINALLY. STOP SAYING I AM WEAK LIKE A GIRL. WOMEN AREN’T WEAK. NOR AM I. I AM A MAN. VULNERABILITY IS STRENGTH AND NOT MANY “MEN” POSSESS IT.”
No one is surprise that Harris is gay but the thought of an openly gay reggae artist is mind boggling to many. Indeed, the times are a changing.
Will the real gay reggae artist please stand up? Dalton Harris has stood up.
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