Montego Bay, St James - International Grammy-winning deejay, Beenie Man, in an about-turn Friday denounced violence against homosexuals, but made it clear that he did not support that lifestyle.

The deejay was responding to questions about an alleged deal with international gay rights groups, including the UK-based Outrage, in which he was said to have agreed to renounce violence against gays.

He denied signing any such deal, which Outrage last month announced as the Reggae Compassionate Act, but at the same time said that violence against gays was wrong.
"We don't need it," he told reporters shortly after closing Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest's Dancehall Night at approximately 7:15 Friday morning. "We don't need to kill dem. We just need fi tell the people dem the right ting because I not supporting a gay lifestyle because it's not wholesome to me."

Beenie Man explained that the Reggae Compassionate Act to which Outrage referred, was brokered by European promoters under fire from gay rights groups furious that they continued to support certain Reggae acts whose lyrics incited violence against homosexuals.
"It's a ting from the promoters of Europe. They are getting so much fight from the Christian and "g" organisation and everything," said the self-proclaimed 'King of the Dancehall', who apparently could not bring himself to say the word gay.

At the same time, the deejay said he did not personally sign any agreement and could not promise that he would be abiding by it. "I do music," he argued. "Dancehall mi do, I can't promise nuh man dat. And mi neva sign it, yuh hear sah."

Beenie Man and several other local Reggae artistes suffered severe setbacks in their careers in recent years when gay rights groups, under the Stop Murder Music banner, boycotted their concerts and led a campaign that saw many of them being dropped from a number of European and US tours.

Earlier this month, Outrage alleged that Beenie Man, as well as Sizzla and Capleton, had signed the agreement to desist inciting violence against gays through their music. The Observer has been unable to contact Sizzla and Capleton for a response.

Outrage also vowed to go after Buju Banton, Elephant Man, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel and TOK who they said incited murder against lesbians and gays in their music.

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