Band to speak out against anti-LGBT violence during national tour

GLAAD, the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, today responded to popular Mexican rock band Molotov's decision to remove the anti-gay slur "maricón" from its 1997 song "Puto" during this summer's Jägermeister Music Tour.

The song "Puto" included the lyrics "matarile al maricón" which can be translated as "kill the faggot." The title "Puto" is a slang word which has been interpreted as   "faggot." Band members have commented in the past the song is meant   as an anti-establishment call to stand up for oneself and that the word   "puto" is, for the band, defined as "coward." Molotov has   won four Latin Grammy Awards and the band's albums have seen gold and platinum   sales in Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, Chile and the United States.

  Along with removing "maricón," from the "matarile al   maricón" lyric, the band will introduce the song during the tour with a   message of support for LGBT people. The band will be donating some of the   tour's proceeds to LGBT organizations and to help Esteban Navarro, the young   victim of a recent anti-gay attack in Chile, which required Navarro's leg to   be amputated. His attackers repeatedly used the word "maricón."

Molotov's   statement on the band's Facebook page said, in part, "We are   saddened by the recent attack on Esteban Navarro in Chile. This was an act of   discrimination and hatred which cannot be tolerated and no one should be a   target of violence because they are LGBT.  As an act of solidarity with   Esteban Navarro and the LGBT community, we are choosing to refrain from using   the word 'maricón' in our song lyrics during our upcoming U.S. tour.    This word was used by Esteban's assailants in this pointless attack,   and therefore, has no place in our set.

  We celebrate everyone's freedom of expression, equality and the freedom to   love whomever they choose ... We plan to speak out about all forms of prejudice   at our upcoming concerts, as well as, conduct a media tour in the United   States and Latin America to share our sentiments."

  "Eliminating the word 'maricón' is a good first step, and we hope the   band continues to leave such hateful sentiments out of the song when it is   performed in the United States, Latin America, or anywhere" said Dave   Montez, GLAAD Acting President. "The song still contains the harmful   slur 'puto' and while the band claims its intent is to use the word as   synonymous with 'coward,' it shouldn't be. Every time a young person hears   that word as an insult or a slur, it hurts them. "

  "It's important for Molotov and anyone who is an LGBT ally to stop using   anti-gay language at a time when LGBT people of color face rising rates of   discrimination and violence," GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz. "The   band has a real opportunity to have a conversation with fans not only about   language choice - but about fomenting anti-LGBT attitudes and hate which can   cause serious harm to LGBT people."

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About GLAAD: GLAAD   amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share   their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they   present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By   ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD   promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more   information, please visit http://www.glaad.org or   connect with GLAAD on Facebook and   Twitter.