One of the world's foremost LGBT equality campaigners says the cancelation of Beenie Man's Big Day Out concerts in New Zealand and Australia "sends a warning to all 'murder music' singers. LGBT equality campaigner Peter Tatchell Following a storm of protest against the artist, the producers of the popular music festival decided yesterday that the notorious anti-gay Jamaican Reggae artist will now not appear. "These concert cancellations will hit Beenie Man hard in the pocket," reacts UK-based gay campaigner Peter Tatchell today. "He has lost tens of thousands of dollars. "The success of this campaign sends a warning message to all murder music artists: inciting homophobic violence will cost you money. You will lose out big time." According the gay equality group Outrage!, Big Day Out organiser Susan Forrester contacted Peter Tatchell seeking his advice on whether to go ahead with Beenie Man's booking. "Beenie Man is clearly unrepentant," Tatchell wrote back. "He has never apologised for urging the killing of gay people. In fact, he put out a statement and hit song called I no apologise. You would not consider hosting Beenie Man if he was a white racist singer who had called for the murder of black people. You would dump him. There should be no double standards when it comes to singers who incite homophobic violence." MIXED REACTION The almost 2,000 members of the campaigning Facebook group 'Standing up against Beenie Man at Big Day Out 2010' have cause to celebrate after yesterday's announcement, but not everyone is as pleased over Beenie Man's cancellation. Scoop.co.nz pundit Gordon Campbell thought the 'gay community campaign' against Beenie Man went against the concept of free speech. "I can see the political convenience for New Zealand gay politicians and activists to focus on a music such as dancehall – which has few defenders on free speech grounds, even in liberal circles," he wrote. "To my mind, art that is said to be 'hate' speech is still art. Whether I like it or not. It should be engaged, not vetoed. And newsflash: it is all around us. Pick on dancehall as an easy target, but spare me the righteousness." Outspoken gay libertarian Lindsay Perigo's reaction was stronger: "Gay fascists have won a victory over homophobic fascists," he argued. "The loser is freedom of speech and conscience. "It's a shame the [Big Day Out] succumbed to pressure from a group of toxic totalitarians who form a significant contingent of New Zealand's Politically Correct Thought Police, who won't be satisfied till they've criminalized 'offensive' and 'inappropriate' speech." However, Stuff.co.nz entertainment blogger Simon Sweetman is pleased "Has-Beenie Man" is no longer coming to Auckland, but not because he's offended by the singer's hate-mongering songs. "I don't think he added any value to the bill; I don't think he has any talent; I don't think of him as being a great draw, it certainly wouldn't get me to the festival - and I think of all of those factors before I worry about his lyrics," he concluded.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Monday, 16th November 2009 - 3:20pm