British gay rights group OutRage says it hopes to stop the broadcast of Britain's annual MOBO Awards show on BBC Television in October, because of the inclusion of two Jamaican acts they have listed as promoting homophobia.

BBC News reported yesterday that Outrage had not only condemned the nomination of Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel for the Best Reggae Single award, but vowed to try and stop the screening of the awards show on BBC TV on October sixth. The show is to be staged on September 30. The list of nominees was made public on Tuesday. OutRage says it had sought the cooperation of promoters of the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) awards in banning the eight Jamaican dancehall acts for using lyrics promoting homophobia and the murder of lesbians and gays.

The list comprises Elephant Man, Vybz Kartel, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Capleton, TOK and Sizzla.

MOBO organisers did not react and when the list of nominees was made public, showing that Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel were included, OutRage accused the organisers of "colluding with homophobic violence". Toots Hibbert and Sean Paul were the two other nominees in the reggae category.

"We are astonished that the MOBOs appear to have mischievously misled journalists," said OutRage's Peter Tatchell. "On Monday, the MOBOs said homophobic singers would not be nominated, but on Tuesday two of the most homophobic were put forward for nomination."

He claimed that the MOBO organisers had misled the London daily, The Times, into publishing an article on Tuesday which claimed that so-called "anti-gay" artistes would not be featured in this year's awards.

OutRage said that both Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel had, "repeatedly released tunes that promote and endorse the shooting and torching of gay people".

"We are appalled that the MOBOs have decided to reward singers who incite the murder of lesbian and gay people. The MOBOs are colluding with artistes who encourage and glorify the murder of homosexuals. They are giving these singers kudos and respectability," Tatchell said.

He quoted Elephant Man's We Nuh Like Gay and Vybz Kartel's Bedroom Slaughteration as examples of their homophobic lyrics.

The BBC reported a spokeswoman for the MOBOs as saying that the songs listed by OutRage were not new and that the artistes have "changed their music since". A BBC spokesman has said that the station will not broadcast any homophobic lyrics. But OutRage is insisting that the screening of the show should not be allowed, as long as the two Jamaicans are included.

"The promotion of these murder-music artistes contradicts the BBC's producer guidelines and equal-opportunities policy which prohibit the promotion of homophobia and homophobic violence," OutRage campaigner, Brendan Lock was quoted by the BBC as saying.

The group is also expected to target a planned performance by Vybz Kartel at Reggae In the Park at the Wembley Arena in September.

The Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police are currently reviewing some of the lyrics of Beenie Man and Elephant Man, among a number of cases of homophobic and offensive lyrics being reviewed as capable of inciting hate crimes.

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