Beenie Man's Chicago Concert Canceled Last Week
Minneapolis, Minnesota -
In the latest in a string of concert cancellations, a nightclub in downtown Minneapolis has cancelled an appearance by Jamaican singer Beenie Man.
The singer, whose lyrics call for the killing of gays, was to have played The Quest on October 31. The club announced its cancellation to OutFront Minnesota.
"We are extremely pleased that The Quest has decided to pull the plug on this concert in light of the deep concerns expressed by the GLBT community," said Doug Federhart, Deputy Director of OutFront Minnesota, and supervisor of its Anti-Violence Program.
OutFront Minnesota staff had been "tipped off" by community members that Beenie Man was scheduled to perform in late October at The Quest, a popular nightclub in Minneapolis' Warehouse District.
"Our staff had already been aware of the problems posed by 'Beenie Man's' lyrics through the reporting on 365gay.com," says Federhart.
"They collected numerous reports of other concert cancellations and criminal investigations elsewhere, and this information was invaluable in helping The Quest see the potential problems of permitting 'Beenie Man' to perform in their space. The management was very understanding of the concern and quickly made it clear that the contemplated concert would not take place there."
About half of the venues across the country that were to have hosted Beenie Man concerts have pulled out. The singer was to have performed in 15 cities.
The biggest cancellation came from RJR Reynolds which axed Beenie Man from all of its Salem Stir Your Senses Tour, including an October concert at Chicago's House of Blues, after it was made aware of the nature of they lyrics.
In addition, Beenie Man and three other Jamaican singers whose music included incitements to violence against gays are under investigation by police in the UK.
©365Gay.com 2004
Related: Windy City Times - Beenie Man Concert Tour Caves Under Gay Pressure
The singer, whose lyrics call for the killing of gays, was to have played The Quest on October 31. The club announced its cancellation to OutFront Minnesota.
"We are extremely pleased that The Quest has decided to pull the plug on this concert in light of the deep concerns expressed by the GLBT community," said Doug Federhart, Deputy Director of OutFront Minnesota, and supervisor of its Anti-Violence Program.
OutFront Minnesota staff had been "tipped off" by community members that Beenie Man was scheduled to perform in late October at The Quest, a popular nightclub in Minneapolis' Warehouse District.
"Our staff had already been aware of the problems posed by 'Beenie Man's' lyrics through the reporting on 365gay.com," says Federhart.
"They collected numerous reports of other concert cancellations and criminal investigations elsewhere, and this information was invaluable in helping The Quest see the potential problems of permitting 'Beenie Man' to perform in their space. The management was very understanding of the concern and quickly made it clear that the contemplated concert would not take place there."
About half of the venues across the country that were to have hosted Beenie Man concerts have pulled out. The singer was to have performed in 15 cities.
The biggest cancellation came from RJR Reynolds which axed Beenie Man from all of its Salem Stir Your Senses Tour, including an October concert at Chicago's House of Blues, after it was made aware of the nature of they lyrics.
In addition, Beenie Man and three other Jamaican singers whose music included incitements to violence against gays are under investigation by police in the UK.
©365Gay.com 2004
Related: Windy City Times - Beenie Man Concert Tour Caves Under Gay Pressure
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
