Culture

Beenie Man: A "Kill the Gays" Performer Coming to Rochester, NY

by Rhonda J Mangus | March 9, 2010 at 04:29 am

1061 views | 25 Recommendations | 11 comments

Jamaican reggae musician Beenie Man, known for his "kill the gays" lyrics, is coming to Rochester, New York on Friday March 12th, 2010, to perform at Water Street Music Hall.

Viciously homophobic, Beenie Man routinely calls for violence against gays and lesbians in his music, and he is not the only homophobic musician.

Earlier this year, activists were successful in getting another homophobic musician, Capleton, pulled from concert tours in California. Capleton also has a history of anti-gay lyrics and continues to perform anti-gay music even after pledging to stop.
Beenie Man is, essentially, no different. He has continued to sing anti-gay lyrics, which call for gays to have their throats slit or lesbians to be hung by rope. In another egregious example of homophobia in his lyrics, Beenie Man also says he dreams of a Jamaica where all gays are executed.

Beenie Man Concert in Uganda 2009

One of his most famous songs, "Mi Nah Wallah," calls for gay people to have their throats slit. Moreover, Beenie Man traveled to Uganda in fall 2009, a country which is currently debating legislation that would institute the death penalty for many gays and lesbians, and during the concert sang "Mi Nah Wallah" and blasted gays and lesbians from the stage.

No venue should be in the business of supporting this type of music. Urge Water Street Music Hall in Rochester to drop this act. His music may be popular in certain circles, but that certainly doesn't make up for the levels of violence and the toxic climate of hatred that it causes.

Take Action: Tell Water Street Music Hall homophobic performers are not welcome.

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Liz McKibbon

at 06:05 on March 9th, 2010

This is sick. It's hard to believe that someone who is a minority in the States would blatantly be so hurtful to another.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 06:20 on March 9th, 2010

Liz bigots come in all colours.

Uwe Paschen

at 06:30 on March 9th, 2010

Sad, people with out souls or conscience. It is sick in deed.

Rory Cripps

at 06:47 on March 9th, 2010

Does Beenie sing Muslim spiritual music by any chance?

chuckwpc

at 09:02 on March 9th, 2010

No, he is a Jamaican rapper he is pretty good except for his hatred of gays.

hidflect

at 07:11 on March 9th, 2010

It's been so politically correct to ignore the bias of non-white groups for so long, tackling the issue is seriously compromised. It was touched on briefly in Philadelphia with Denzel Washington playing the homophobe but the truth is; a serious cornerstone of African American culture is an unreconstructed hatred of anything "gay". Maybe it's something picked up from their cultural roots in the old bigoted and religious American South. Held in their low position in society, it was the one class they were allowed to look down upon.

Sam Kestu (not verified)

at 12:22 on March 9th, 2010

The promoter of Beenie Man at the Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY on 03/12/10 is Dajiah-Vu Entertainment. As of today, the performance is still on.We need to contact Dajaih-Vu Entertainment.Can't find a phone number for Dajiah-Vu Entertainment email Dajiah_Vu@yahoo.com They run Club NV in Rochester, phone is (585) 454-7230

JGMitchell

at 20:12 on March 9th, 2010

I understand the importance of freedom of speech to our culture here in North America, but this is hate speech, and that is against the law! How can this person be singing such hateful lyrics and not be stopped?

Sam Kestu (not verified)

at 23:34 on March 9th, 2010

Unfortunately, we have discovered three more scheduled Beenie Man appearances for March 2010:03/11/10 At The Imperial, 17 West 19TH St., New York, NY, (212) 352-2001 www.theimperialnyc.com/tinyurl.com/yka8coo03/13/10 At Cotton Club, 112 N. 5TH ST, Richmond, VA,804-644-5777beenieman.eventbrite.com/03/14/10 At Club Blakely's,414 Battlefield Boulevard South,Chesapeake, VA,(757) 546-7749www.blakelysva.com/Polite letters will help. Also contact your local LGBT group! Thanks!

Objective (not verified)

at 02:29 on March 30th, 2010

How come no ones says anything about Eminen's hate speech, is it because he is white?

Rhonda J Mangus

at 02:39 on March 30th, 2010

Objective (not verified) thank you for reading and commenting.

How come no ones says anything about Eminen's hate speech, is it because he is white?

As early as 2001 groups have spoken out against Eminen as evidenced by this 2/2001 article 'Eminen--Bad Rap?'. The reasons this type of music continues to sell is self-explanatory from the article.