The British queer rights group OutRage! has called on the London Metropolitan Police to investigate and if necessary take action to prevent Jamaican dancehall deejay Beenie Man from performing in London next week.
By Olivia Leigh Campbell"Beenie Man's UK concert will take place just two weeks after the horrific murder of Jamaican Gay Activist Brian Williamson, who was hacked to death in Kingston. His murder occurred in an atmosphere of homophobic hatred stirred up by the anti-gay dancehall lyrics of singers like Beenie Man," said the letter, addressed to Scotland Yard's Carl Wonfor.
On June 10, Williamson, an openly gay man who was also the founder and most outspoken member of J-FLAG, was found stabbed to death in his New Kingston home.
Immediately, J-FLAG branded the killing a 'hate crime', but the Jamaican police theorise robbery as the motive although there were no signs of forced entry into Williamson's apartment. The police are now searching for two men they say were known to Williamson and frequented his home.
OutRage!, like human rights advocacy group Amnesty International, condemned the killing and the manner in which homosexuals are treated in Jamaica, vowing to bring pressure on the government to protect the rights of gays in Jamaica.
Specifically, OutRage! has requested that the police interview Beenie Man on arrival in England about his lyrics, if possible arrest him, or warn him against making homophobic remarks during his concert. OutRage! also wants the management of the Ocean Nightclub warned that if Beenie Man performs any anti-homosexual songs at the show, they could be held liable.
Yesterday afternoon, international public relations officer of Beenie Man's management agency Shocking Vibes, Clyde McKenzie, was quick to assert that the artiste would not be cancelling any shows on this tour, which will see Beenie Man performing in London, Dublin and other cities in Britain and Ireland.
"This is not the first time that something like this has come up, and I'm sure it won't be the last. Still, we respect the right of any group to express themselves, we only hope that in an effort to express their own views, they do not interfere with the rights of others," McKenzie said.
According to McKenzie, he is confident that Beenie Man will "know how to handle himself in this situation" and therefore would not undergo any special preparations for a possible interview with the police.
Beenie Man is not the first deejay that gay rights groups have come out against. Others, such as Buju Banton, whose hit tune Boom Bye Bye created a furore in Britain and in parts of North America, have been forced to apologise or make concession to similar groups to avoid repercussions.
"I don't think Beenie Man is going there to incite violence against anyone, and we have no intention of cancelling any of the shows, as Beenie Man has a strong fan base in Britain," McKenzie added defiantly.
