Gay Murder Singers To Play In New Jersey 

(Newark, New Jersey)  Three reggae stars whose music calls for the killing of gays will perform live in Newark, New Jersey next Sunday.

Capleton, Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel (pictured) have recorded and performed songs which urge listeners to shoot, burn, lynch and drown lesbians and gay men.

"The release of ‘kill gays’ songs by artists like Capleton, Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer has been often followed by a rise in homophobic violence, both in Jamaica and wherever else this music becomes popular,” says Brett Lock of the British gay rights group Outrage which has been been instrumental in leading a public awareness campaign against hate music.

“Jamaican lesbians and gays have been shot and stabbed, macheted and stoned to death, doused with petrol and set ablaze, and chased into the sea and left to drown," Lock said Thursday.

The three singers will perform at the Terrace in downtown Newark on September 19th.

"It's outrageous that in such a gay friendly state as New Jersey this is being planned," Peter Frycki the publisher of Out in Jersey Magazine told 365Gay.com.

When questioned about the inclusion of the singers at the Festival, a man who would identify himself only as one of the promoters told Frycki that he was "aware of the violence in their music, but that they would not perform any of the homophobic songs.

The promoter said the Reggae Festival is a "family event", and that they had a contract with the artists that states they cannot perform anti-gay songs.

Earlier this week Britain's urban music awards, the MOBOs, rescinded Vybz Kartel's nomination for “Best Reggae” song following an outcry from LGBT groups. (story)

“Free speech does not include the right to encourage the killing of other human beings," said Outrage's Peter Tatchell. "Incitement to murder is a criminal offence. We want their performances dropped because they endorse violent hate crimes, not because they insult gay people.”

Two other singers are also under fire for advocating violence against gays.

Sizzla, recently performed a concert in Montreal, but it was only allowed into Canada after he signed guarantees with the government that he would not perform music that promotes homophobia.

Beenie Man concerts have been cancelled in several US cities.  The most recent was MTV's decision not to allow him to perform at a MTV Music Video Awards concert in Miami. (story) But, the biggest cancellation came from RJR Reynolds which axed Beenie Man from all of its Salem Stir Your Senses Tour after it was made aware of the nature of the lyrics. (story)