Gay Rights Activists Roust Reggae Hater

Britain's best known civil liberties campaigner Peter Tatchell praised British police this week for detaining Jamaican rapper Beenie Man at Heathrow Airport in connection with an ongoing investigation into homophobic lyrics in rap and reggae.

Following his brief detention, Hackney club the Ocean cancelled Beenie Man's concert that night, in a move The Outrage campaigner said was a 'triumph over homophobia'

"Our aim is to make Britain a no-go area for entertainers who incite violence against gay people"," he added (Petertatchell.net).

Meanwhile in France, authorities introduced new laws outlawing anti-gay and sexist abuse this week which carry penalties of up to 12 months in jail for anyone inciting 'discrimination, hatred or violence on the grounds of a person's sex or sexual orienatation (The Guardian).

"This law puts the fight against homophobia and sexism on the same footing, legally speaking, as the fight against racism and anti-semitism," French Justice Minister Dominque Perben told the paper.
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• peter tatchell
• beenie man