More from the 'gay rights v dance hall' file. Six French gigs from Jamaican reggae star Capleton have been cancelled after a gay rights group called Coordination InterPride France hit out at the singer's use of homophobic lyrics, including allegedly inciting violence against gay people. Some other gigs, however, will go ahead, including one at Paris' Le Zenith venue.
Daniel Colling, director of Le Zenith, explained to reporters: "My responsibility is to react if an artist makes illegal comments on stage. At the same time, I am bothered by the idea of judging and condemning someone before the act."
Not all gay rights groups in France have called for Capleton's gigs to be completely banned - with the Actions Gay LGBT Association arguing an all out ban will: "just increase the level of hate". However they are looking for the singer to give a written assurance that he will not use homophobic lyrics, and have indicated they too may call for an all out ban if no such commitment is made. Le Zenith have also indicated they will reconsider proceeding with the gig if Capleton is not forthcoming with a commitment of this kind.
The Capleton cancellations are the result of an increasingly proactive campaign by gay rights groups against dance hall artists who, they allege, use their lyrics to incite violence against homosexuals. A number of gigs from different artists were cancelled in both Europe and the US last year, although some in the genre hoped some kind of truce had been reached when UK gay rights organisation OutRage called off its anti-dancehall campaign after certain reggae labels committed to not releasing or re-releasing any tracks containing homophobic lyrics, and to pressure their artists into not using homophobic lyrics at live shows. However some in the gay community point out the artists themselves were not party to that deal.