After years of protests from organisations including Outrage, the gay rights campaigning group, the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) organisers appear to have blocked the nominations of anti-gay musicians.
The black music industry’s key artists have long been accused of homophobia, indeed Beenie Man (pictured right) and Elephant Man’s songs have lyrics that Outrage and others interpret as inciting the murder of gays and lesbians.
Last years awards ceremony were accompanied by various protests and caused the retraction of two nominations for artists that advocate violence against gay people.
The judges have stuck to more mainstream black artists including Lemar, who reached the final of the BBC talent show “Fame Academy”, and has been nominated for five awards: Best Album, Best RB Act, Best Single, Best Video and UK Act of the Year.
