By Roman Wolfe
Popular "Gayngsta" rapper Deadlee is organizing and launching World Kiss Out Day, a concert inspired by recent remarks made by Ja Rule, who blaimed "gays on MTV for f**king up America."
"Lets talk about all these f***ing shows that they have on MTV that is promoting homosexuality, that my kids can't watch this s**t," Ja Rule said to Complex.com in September. "Dating shows that's showing two guys or two girls in mid-afternoon. Let's talk about s**t like that! If that's not f***ing up America, I don't know what is."
In the aftermath of the comments, various Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) rights groups called for a media ban on the Queens-bred rapper, who backed off of the comments and later claimed that his words were taken out of context.
Because of Ja Rule's comments, Deadlee, born Joseph Lee, will launch the First Annual World Kiss Out Day, encouraging members of the LGBT community around the world to show public affection "just like the straight community" on buses, subways, streets, in malls and airports and other public places.
"Many people accuse lesbian, gay and bisexual people of 'flaunting' their sexuality when they talk about their partner, hold hands or kiss one another in public," says Deadlee. "These are activities that heterosexual couples do all the time. Due to homophobic reactions, some lesbian, gay and bisexual people are actually forced to hide their sexuality in public, not flaunt it. On December 1, we hide no more."
This year's World Kiss Out Day will coincide with the annual World Aids Day, which also takes place on December 1st.
"This one year, I think we can have both on the same day," Deadlee said. "The magnitude of the AIDS epidemic will not be diminished by a kiss. Observances and actions can exist on the same day."
Deadlee, labeled a "Gayngsta rapper" who performs "Homo-Hop,"has appeared on CNN, NPR, The Tyra Banks Show, and Howard Stern, and publications like Rolling Stone, Wired, The Advocate and other publications.