ST. KITT, Jamaica, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- DJ Beenie Man, a Jamaican Rastafarian whose music has been criticized as homophobic, said his lyrics are misinterpreted and really condemn rape.
Gay rights activists in North America and Europe have protested Beenie Man's concerts after his controversial songs seemed to advocate executing gays, The Independent reported.
The 35-year-old award-winning disc jockey was dropped from the MTV Video Music Awards and the Mobo Awards, but he claims he is not homophobic. He said his lyrics actually target child molesters.
"What we have in Jamaica is not what it is in England where two men live together," he said. "In Jamaica, gay is rape. It's a big man with their money going into the ghetto and picking these little youth who ain't got nothing. And then give them money and then involving them.
"There were 550 youths who got raped in Jamaica you know?"
Violent acts against gays are common in Jamaica, The Independent reported. The country's leading gay-rights activist Brian Williamson, was murdered with a machete in 2004.
Though he doesn't approve of the gay lifestyle, Beenie Man said, "They are happy with their life and they're doing their thing."
