Freedom of speech does allow you to say what you want as long as its not offensive and obscene language or promotes a danger to the public. Everyone loves to talk about that but obviously don't realize that there are so many people out there who would love nothing more than to kill someone because they're gay. We've all seen it in the news. Jamaicans DO NOT PROMOTE GAY MEN AND WOMEN AT ALL. THEY COMPLETELY DENOUNCE GAYS IN EVERY SHAPE FORM AND FASHION!! There will never be a common ground with the gay issue because everyone seems to be thinking that all gay people want to change everyone into being gay. That's not the case at all. Why do you think we have laws on hate crimes? For this same reason, to prevent things like that from happening.

I think this is the most no sense making thing ever. Ok, so every time someone comes up against gays the answer is ban them. Get real.

Everytime this issue comes up. They site the same Beenie Man lyrics from 10 years ago. This is the same with Buju Banton, but instead they site lyrics from 20 years ago.

Both sides need to come together and understand each other. This is ridiculous. Gays and Jamaican artist need to sit down and sort this out. These lyrics do not translate across the board! Even though it is english different cultures use words differently. Though talking about other humans in such a way is wrong. It is not what people really think, these songs are not witch hunt anthems to exterminate gays... its more just bragging and boasting about being a man... but yes it is not right!

The Voice of Reason, you have lived up to your name perfectly.

Freedom of speech is one of our most fundamental rights and it is what makes this country great. The right to say what you want without retribution from the government. This right however does not guarantee against retribution from the people. You can say what you feel, but I don't have to like it, agree with it, or even allow you to perform at a private concert.

Although I support some reggae (where would we be be without Bob Marley ;)) and dancehall, let us not forget that this man called for the execution of all homosexuals in many of his songs and with a most egregious tone. Let us also not forget that even though it is Beenie Man's right to say whatever he wants, it is also the right of the organizers of this concert to not subject it's patrons to the music of a hateful man.

It would be interesting to see how those of you who support this guy would feel if he was as explicitly Gay and denounced hetrosexuals. I am sure there would also be something to complain about.

This is a sad day for New Zealand. :( Musicians say some retarded things sometimes, but it's all about the music. :( This was a chance for New Zealanders to see what has happened to the traditional dancehall style and we are too politically correct to just let people be.

As someone with a lot of gay people close to me in my life but not being gay, I can see the 2 sides to this. There needs to be a debate on what free speech actually is as very few seem to understand. Free speech, means exactly as it says, the right to state your own opinions or to form words into coherent sentences as you please. Guess what you have the right to reply! They are only words and they only have the power we invest them with. Alas the PC police are hell-bent on investing anything they dont agree with, with that power. By overly dramatising the level of offence and often being offended on behalf of some other group, than themsleves, usually a disenfranchised group for whom they can be a worthy champion and more importanly be seen to be. I want to hear different opinions, even the dangerous, unsound, illogical ones, I want to be able to discuss openly issues like this, not hide it all under some mat, whilst pretending that racism, homophobia and all manner of other prejudices don't exist, in our 'civillised' society. It is unnopposed actions, not words that have done the most harm in our world. Obviously for many rather than deal with these prejudices that have a really deep origin in human nature, lets just ban them and pretend they aren't there. Are we willing to stand up and say what you think so honestly in public, not on some comments page? Beenie Man said what he thought, he has since said it was misconstrued, been villified, apologised and taken significant steps to support positivity in Jamaican music - so what now? Ban him from NZ, a country that only less than 30 yrs ago made homosexuality legal and even then, 80% of the country didn't agree with it. Why not deal with our own backyard of prejudice, race-hate and homophobia first before taking recalcitrant Jamaican musicians to task and pushing the world ever closer towards full blown censorship. And the left-wingers accuse, right-wingers of censorship???

Typical gays... all they do is complain complain and complain... i thought all this complaining would stop once they one the civil rights bill? But no..., it just continues and continues... are your gay partners not pleasing you?

To all you you anti-free speech types; people like you are the reason that we can't publish cartoons of Mohammed for fear of upsetting Muslims.

If you can substantiate any link between what Beenie Man (a guy who has since RENOUNCED his anti-gay lyrics - aren't people even allowed to make mistakes??) sings about on stage, and violence against homosexuals in New Zealand, then I'd agree you have a point.

As it stands, it's one man, one point of view. Free speech should allow for hate speech. I hate all organised religion - should I be barred from speaking my mind about how wonderful a world free of religion would be just because some of you would deem it 'hateful'?