Beenie Man fight goes to label
Published August 18, 2004
Gay rights groups stepped up their campaign against dance hall artists who include homophobic lyrics in their songs yesterday by calling on London based major EMI to cancel its contract with Beenie Man...OutRage have now written to EMI chief executive Tony Wadsworth demanding they end their relationship with the performer, who is signed to their Virgin division. In the letter OutRage's Peter Tatchell and Brett Lock write: "Beenie Man does more than express his disapproval of homosexuality. He calls for all homosexuals to be killed and incites his listeners to go out and murder gays and lesbians. This goes way beyond an acceptable expression of opinion. Lesbian and gay people have a right to live their lives free from threats to 'execute' them."...
This further news in the Beenie Man saga comes via CMU.
Marty's band, Growing Old Disgracefully, can be found at: Disgraceful Music. His Cthulhu tales can be found at Temple of Dagon. 
- Beenie Man fight goes to label
- Published: August 18, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: News
- Writer: Marty Dodge
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I know my opinion may not be the popular one, but it is my opinion and I stick to it.Although I dont condone gay- bashing or any other violence, I do believe that Beenie Man has the right to believe and say what he wants to say. I find it hard in this society to believe that it is o.k. for us and our kids to see two men kissing but as soon as someone says something against gay or lesbianism, they are put on the chopping block for their beliefs.I have a very close friend that is a lesbian, and I make it clear to her that I love her and respect her wishes, but i dont condone it. I ask her to provide me the same respect. She might not condone some of the things that I do and if so she could make it evident to me and I would respect her. I dont agree with promoting acts of violence against anyone because of thier beliefs, or practices it they are not hurting anyone, but i do believe in the cencorship of certain things. I believe we have the right to stand up for our beliefs no matter what they are. If we are going to censor Beenie Man for his advocating gay bashing, than other artist need to be cencored for their speaking about violently hurting people. I dont think that Beenie Man is right for saying that people should go out and hurt people because they are gay. I do believe he has the right to say that he doesnt approve of gays and he has the right to publicly speak out about it in his music.
From the roots there were gays and lesbians but...in marriage there must be kids so if gays get married how are they going to have children i see this as a weird thing to do...
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Currently, Beenie Man is under investigation by the UK police for incitement of hatred, which is illegal there. The investigation was opened Monday.
Half of the U.S. cities where Beenie Man is to perform have cancelled his shows, the latest being the Quest nightclub in Minneapolis, just yesterday (or today? not sure)
RJReynolds has recently axed Beenie Man from all it's Salem (cig) Stir Your Senses Tour.
Thankfully, hatred doesn't pay. He's free to sing his murder music (at least here in the U.S.) and America is free to distance itself from his words.
Within the last week or two, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago and Indianapolis have said Beenie Man will not perform there.