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Beverly Knight Stands Up Against Homophobia
October 27th, 2008
Being Black and gay in America is no picnic in the park. Being Black and, more importantly, opening gay in Jamaica is even harder. It’s no secret that Jamaica isn’t the most welcoming place for gay people. Just listen to a lot of the homophobic lyrics that lace a lot of popular dancehall music – lyrics that advocate violence and murder of gay people. Also when gays suffer from violent hate crimes on the island, the police often turns a blind’s eye or even worse, engage in the violence.
U.K. soul singer, Beverly Knight, however is taking a public stance against homophobic lyrics in dancehall, calling the task of leading artists such as Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Elephant Man and Bounty Killer. Knight is endorsing the “Stop Murder Music” campaign, which some argue are ruining artists’ careers for confronting their hateful lyrics.
Great Britain’s Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service are investigating musicians, including those aforementioned dancehall artists, Outrage!, a gay human-rights advocacy group presented them with a list of songs which incite violence and murder of gays. In the U.K., incitement to murder is a criminal offense.
“If you are prepared to go on record for eternity saying things that are hateful then you have to be responsible for the consequences of your actions,” Knight says, according to Singerroom.com.
Between being someone who trumpets “Freedom of Expression” and as a Black gay man who is weary of homophobia in all of its forms, I’m certainly conflicted with charging musicians as criminals for hateful lyrics. That said, I’m leaning towards the British government’s side. And like Beverly suggests, if you’re big enough to endorse violence to others, be big enough to suffer the consequences.
What’s your take?
That is great that some artists are standing up against Homophobia! I support Beverly Knight and all other artists and I am proud of them! Making the World a better place!!
I seen her beautiful profile on http://www.RichMingle.com.
I’m not condoning violence against gays or anyone else for that matter,but they are “artists”. That is what the lyrical content rating is for. If you don’t like it,don’t buy it. Dancehall artists are an easy target who oftentimes don’t get top 40 play anyway. These are just small island boys trying to make a living. Why not focus on more popular artists like rappers? I’m guessing it is the former.
I agree somewhat with (unknown); Furthermore music is a freedom of speech and expressions therefore, you cannot impose on anyone what they should say or not say. In Jamaica the lifestyle and upbringing is completely different from the US and UK etc. Dancehall artistes express themselves about what they know and see and how it has been where they are from. If you don’t like it than don’t buy it. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, Love, Love DANCEHALL MUSIC!:) big up BOUNTY KILLER and BUJU BANTON!!!
Who is no hit wonder female?
so this beverley is a man?
I agree w/ Beverly. Everybody rambles about freedom of speech, but once you incorporate intentional hurtful threats to others, then your freedom of speech is no longer protected by the first ammendment.
i was gonna ask that question too is beverley a man or women. i think it’s wrong to hurt someone over this because if you have children u don’t knew how that child is gonna turn out.
BOUNTY KILLER AND ALL THE OTHER DANCEHALL MUSICIANS HAVE DONE MUCH POSITIVE MUSIC. A LOT OF WHICH HAS BEEN COPIED AND PIRATED BY AMERICAN AND BRITISH MUSICIANS WHO FEEL THEY ARE MORE INTELLECTUAL. AND, WHY ARE THESE SO-CALLED BIGGER MUSICIANS FROM THESE FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES SEEM TO BE SO INFORMED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DANCEHALL? THE REASON IS SIMPLE, THE EXPONENTS OF DANCEHALL MUSIC ARE PROPHETS WHO DO MUSIC FROM THE HEART, NOT JUST FOR THE CASH, HENCE, THE WORLD’S ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE POWERFUL MESSAGES.
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