GrooveOut Eminem Anyone? Free speech for hate-mongers, yes. Giving Grammy awards to hate-mongers...I don't think so by Chris Sill

On February 21, the music industry will gather at the Shrine Theater in Los Angeles to honor its own at the 43rd annual Grammy Awards. Zzzzz...wake me up when it's over. There's little to get excited about this year; in fact, most of the excitement may come outside the theater before the live broadcast when GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, plans on crashing the party. "GLAAD will absolutely be at the Grammys," says Cathy Renna, GLAAD's news media director, speaking to OutSmart from their New York office. "We're planning on having a multi-faceted presence."

The reason for the demonstration is the ongoing controversy surrounding rapper Eminem and his multi-nominated album The Marshall Mathers LP. Since last summer GLAAD has been applying a lot of heat to the Detroit rapper and his label, Interscope Records, over lyrics promoting violence against gays and others. In September, GLAAD protested the MTV Video Music Awards outside Radio City Music Hall in New York, where Eminem took home two trophies.

GLAAD is a media watchdog for the gay, lesbian, and transgendered community. Renna states that the group's goals concerning Eminem are the same as with any other issue. "Raising awareness and increasing visibility for what we see as defamation that continues to target the GLBT community. It's also about fostering a dialogue...getting people to talk about these issues because it's the only way we are going to make any movement forward in terms of understanding...." GLAAD hopes to involve the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences-the governing body of the Grammys-in the discussion as well. GLAAD disagrees with the nominations Eminem received, especially Album of the Year. "We feel that they made a mistake in giving him this much prominence and nominating for that high an honor a CD that we really have some major concerns about."

Nominated for four Grammys, Eminem is most likely to win in the Best Rap Album and Best Rap Solo Performance categories. Although praised by many critics and colleagues for his rapping style and brutal content, he may prove too controversial to win the coveted Album of the Year prize. On Mathers, Eminem raps about raping and killing his mother and his wife, and stabbing gays and lesbians in the head with a knife.

Is this material worthy of that prize? GLAAD's concern is clearly justified. What kind of message is sent if music that promotes such violence and hatred toward a segment of the population wins awards? Especially when a large percentage of those listening are teenage males. Will this music influence their attitudes about the gay community? Does violence on television and in films make us more prone to commit violent acts? It's another chapter in America's ongoing debate over censorship.

Artists should have the right to freely express themselves through their music. It's one of this country's principal rights-when art becomes censored, a much larger problem unfolds. But there is difficulty in finding art in Eminem's music. He has stated that his music is "comical," and in a Rolling Stone interview he claims that half his lyrics are made up to antagonize. "I just make it up to make you mad. And you know what? I shouldn't even have to f---ing explain myself." Is he an artist or just an entertainer hiding behind the First Amendment, trying to get a rise out of everyone? The latter seems more applicable.

Either way, he has managed to amass a large audience made up of predominantly young males. To say that they won't be influenced in some way by Eminem's vicious tongue is foolish. Counterbalancing his hateful tone is GLAAD's mission and one that we all should be involved in. "It's not OK for people to throw around words like fag and dyke," Renna says. "The kind of climate we live in, in terms of prejudice and discrimination and even violence..., people need to understand that it starts with that kind of language." She continues, "We've never said that Eminem should not be allowed to make his music or even say what he wants, but the bottom line is if that kind of speech is out there, then we have an obligation for the entire community to stand up and speak out about it. So it's really not about his free speech, it's about our own free speech and our ability to get our voice out there. It's not a less-speech but a more-speech argument, which I think is the only one with any integrity."

And the nominees are...

The nominees for Grammys are some of our favorite gay and lesbian artists and icons. Melissa Etheridge is up for the award in the Best Female Rock Vocal category. She faces some stiff competition from Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morrisette, and Patti Smith. This one's a toss-up.

Elton John and Tim Rice receive a nomination for Best Musical Show Album with Aida. Latin love-studs Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony battle it out with Sting, Don Henley, and Brian McKnight for Best Male Pop. This may be Anthony's year.

Madonna's Music makes the Record of the Year nominees list and this is her best shot at an award this year. Music is also up for Best Pop Vocal Album, but look for Steely Dan's critically acclaimed comeback album, Two Against Nature, to take honors. Madonna's also nominated for Best Female Pop, but don't bet on her here-long-shot Aimee Mann deserves this one.

Let's Get Loud from Jennifer Lopez has the momentum, but watch for Moby's Natural Blues to take Best Dance Recording. Remixer of the year honors should go to the much deserving Hex Hector.

Finally, the most exciting category this year is Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, the nominees making a who's who of three decades of pop music: Bryan Ferry, Rickie Lee Jones, George Michael, Joni Mitchell, and Barbra Streisand. Look for Babs' Timeless-Live in Concert to get the sentimental vote and win.

The Grammys air live Wednesday, February 21, on CBS.

Chris Sill spins tunes at Rich's and can be reached at csill@infohwy.com.