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Tell Water Street Music Hall: No Homophobic Performers
  1. Signatures
    161 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. Owner (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Owner (John Chimel)
      • Booking Manager (Catherine Bauer)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter

Water Street Music Hall in Rochester, NY is preparing to host a concert by Beenie Man this coming Friday, March 12. Beenie Man might be a celebrated reggae act, but he's also viciously homophobic, and routinely calls for violence against gays and lesbians in his music.

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.

Is this the type of music and the type of performer that Water Street Music Hall wants to support? Urge them to cancel this appearance. There should be consequences that come with the type of music performed by Beenie Man, and until the singer is willing to apologize for his homophobic lyrics, and stops singing songs that openly advocate for gay people to be killed, no club should be in the business of supporting his act.

Recent Signatures

Don't Support Beenie Man's Music

Dear Water Street Music Hall,

This Friday, your establishment is planning on hosting a concert by Jamaican artist Beenie Man. While Beenie Man may be a popular reggae act, his reputation goes far beyond just his music -- he's also known as one of the most homophobic singers around.

Beenie Man has had a history of music that openly calls for violence against gays and lesbians. His song "Mi Nah Wallah" says that gay people should have their throats slit. Beenie Man even performed this song in Uganda this past Fall -- a country where there is current legislation underfoot that would institute the death penalty for gays and lesbians.

Beenie Man has openly celebrated violence against gays and lesbians. He's been banned from a New Zealand music festival because of his homophobic music, and he continues to remain unapologetic when it comes to lyrics that call for gay people to be murdered.

Is this the type of act, and are these the types of lyrics, that the Water Street Music Hall would like to support? I urge you to cancel this appearance by Beenie Man. Until Beenie Man can apologize for singing lyrics that call for gay people to have their throats slit, no club should be in the business of supporting the violence put forward by his music.

[Your name]

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