The Big Day Out have decided to pull Beenie Man from the 2010 line up.
To have been a part of this movement, to have had my voice heard and to have encouraged others to raise up and include their voice in this debate has been absolutely amazing.
I have done absolutely nothing I wouldn't have done in any other situation. I don't tolerate slander against people based on gender, race or sexuality - and freedom of sexuality is one of my pet causes. I don't believe what I did was particularly special, but I do think that someone needed to stand up and do it. I'm extremely proud that I had the courage of conviction to do it.
For music fans, I think it's important that the Big Day Out replaces Beenie Man with another reggae or dancehall act who aren't so controversial or hate-mongering. I feel it's important that the Big Day Out continues to embrace all genres of music, and at no point have I ever wanted to deprive fans of the music - I simply wanted to ensure that messages of hate against a dear community were not spread in such a way, at such an event.
This was bigger than me. The Facebook group today sits at 1,777 members. That's what the movement picked up in 6 days. I am merely one of the faces of it.
A big huge thank you and congratulations to @JessCann, @annaloren, GayNZ and Hannah at Gay Express Magazine for making such a huge difference and standing up for the basic human right to not be persecuted based on your sexuality. You all rock.
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