LIFEbeat invites homophobes Beenie Man and TOK

LIFEbeat, an organization committed to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in the music industry, has booked Beenie Man and TOK for their upcoming "Hearts and Voices Concert Series." I found this outrageous news via Keith Boykin's blog. Sooo basically for those just tuning in Beenie Man and TOK, two well known reggae artists who use their celebrity and music to call for the *killing* of gay people - are invited to a softer moment here in New York City on July 18th where Hearts and Voices will be shared and HIV/AIDS will be awared. Yeah, I'm gonna miss Rich Medina at Fort Greene Park for this! Who wouldn't!?

Sarcasm aside, this is f'ed up, messed up and got me and a lot of ppl fired up. Check my letter to LIFEbeat below. Follow links on Keith's blog to find out to where you can send your own letter.

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Dear LIFEbeat,

As an HIV+ Black Gay man, I'm appalled that your organization is moving forward with Beenie Man and TOK's scheduled performances. You know that these music artists espouse violent homophobic lyrics. You know that there is an international movement against these artists and their extremely hateful music. But what you apparently do not get is the connection between homophobic violence and HIV.

Your organization's response that it was a "tough decision" to make is irresponsible and uninspiring. How about this for toughness: growing up taunted, verbally besieged as a "faggot," beaten up, having every media outlet and government entity telling you that you are not moral that you don't deserve rights, THEN being told that though we told you your life is worthless (Beenie Man) though we tell you to strap on a condom (LIFEbeat), we want an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has raged your community for over twenty years.

There are a number of reggae artists who do not use their celebrity platform to promote the *killing* of gay people and who have broad appeal among youth (apparently gay youth don't fall into your equation, but that's neither here or there). For your organization to host ones that do, is extremely telling.

I think it's ironic that it took Ronald Reagan 4 years to address HIV/AIDS (after his gay friend Rock Hudson passed away due to AIDS), but it's taking the world much longer to make the connection between homophobia and HIV/AIDS.

Andre The ___
Brooklyn, NY

UPDATE
LIFEbeat refuses to back down.

Keith Boykin speaks to openly gay LIFEbeat Board Member