After the news that their brand was plastered all over a Buju Banton concert in Uganda by a local affiliate was itself plastered all over the internet, PepsiCo sent this message out to national LGBT bloggers (via Towleroad):

“…we just wanted you to know that we are appalled by his lyrics and find them repugnant. We are not associated with him in any way. Our bottling partner in Uganda was not aware of his views and never would have sponsored the concert with this knowledge”

The second line of a news story reporting on the concert for a prominent local newspaper talked about the famous reggae star “driving a sword of words into gay people” at his concert.

You know, it’s a real pity PepsiCo can’t read. Then they might have seen news stories like this before Banton started swinging his sword around, starting all this unpleasantness.

Speaking of the reggae star, GLAAD is protecting your rights to a homophobia-free music industry by whiningabout Banton’s Grammy nomination, but “remaining confident” he will not get the nod for Best Reggae Album. Watch out, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences — they might be “extremely disappointed” if you pick him.

Elsewhere…

Florida – The transphobic McDonald’s manager behind this case has been dropped by the company like a hot potato. Also, this story made it to the BBC in less than a day – is that rad or what? (BBC News)

New Jersey – Maybe the cowardice of the New Jersey legislature was greatly exaggerated? A bill creating same-gender marriages has passed out of committee and will be voted on by the full Senate on Thursday. (Joe.My.God)

D.C. – The Supreme Court has decided to hear a case on whether or not the Constitution gives a Christian student group the right to discriminate against queers. (Towleroad)

Wisconsin – A small gay rights march happened in Wisconsin, but it’s not clear if the 200 participants planned on talking to politicians after an Saturday afternoon spent making speeches to each other. (UW Madison Badger-Herald, h/t Towleroad)