Pink Paper 17 September 2004

The 4 September Guardian Guide carried an article in which the first two paragraphs refer to “Beenie Man being hounded out of a career” and also “Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel are enduring similar discomforts”.
No acknowledgement is made at all that this is a reaction against lyrics that incite murder of lesbians and gay men.
The article takes a tone of not only feeling sorry for the above musicians, as if they are in some way victims of injustice, but criticises Peter Tatchell in wanting Beenie Man prosecuted.
If equivalent songs were written and performed stating that all “niggers” must be shot and hung, we would have a national outcry.
Such extreme hatred is deeply distressing for gay people. I strongly believe that such lyrics do effect the public’s attitude and behaviour towards gay people.
As from now I will no longer be a Guardian reader.
Daniel Fitzgerald, address supplied