Gay business owners have vowed to boycott a club that booked a homophobic performer.

Brighton and Hove Gay Business Forum has pledged to avoid using Concorde 2 in Madeira Drive, Brighton until managers apologise for inviting Buju Banton to perform.

The Jamaican singer's gig was cancelled at the 11th hour last week after Brighton and Hove City Council threatened to revoke the club's licence, saying homophobic material was against council policy.

The forum represents 128 bars, clubs, shops, restaurants, hotels, services and consultancies.

In a letter to the club, they demand "a full and public apology in respect of the insensitive position adopted by Concorde 2 management."

The club has remained unrepentant, saying if its opponents were to listen to Buju's "spiritual" lyrics today they would change their minds about his music. The offensive song called Boom Bye Bye advocates the shooting of gay men.

It was written in 1992 when Buju was 15. But activists say he performed it abroad as recently as last year.

He does not perform it in the UK and it would not have been played at Concorde 2. Concorde 2 is due to host the Brighton and Hove Pride women's party, run by Kim Lucas of the Candy Bar in St James's Street, on Saturday, August 5 after the daytime carnival.

The forum voted not to cancel the club booking because it was too short notice. However, members said that afterwards they will not patronise the venue unless it apologises.

The letter invites Concorde 2 managers to attend the next meeting of the forum. Andy Feast, landlord at gay pub the Queen's Arms in George Street, Brighton, said: "It seems to me they're not taking the gay community seriously.

"The only reason I believe they stopped it was because the council threatened to take away their licence."

Christina Haynes, managing director of Concorde 2, said the club was preparing its response to the letter.

Courtesy of the The Argus