Last week, the advocates of the campaign trumpeted what they claim to be a major breakthrough in their campaign when they got three major reggae artistes, Sizzla, Capleton and Beenie Man to sign the Reggae Compassionate Act.

The act, touted as being of historic importance to the gay community, effectively announces that reggae artistes renounced homophobia, and hailed the deal as this commitment is a major blow against homophobia in the Caribbean and in popular music. The artistes have also been subjected to an avalanche of criticism.

However, at least one artiste, Beenie Man is denying that he signed anything.

I never signed it, maybe the promoters signed it, because every promoter have to sign if dem want dem concert fi keep, but if yu nah sing about dem, there is no need to sign it, Beenie told reporters over the weekend.

A guy come fi my sign paper inna Spain and tell we say we must sign, and mi tell dem mi nah sing no song about them so mi nah sign it. Ah politics dem a deal wid, me know that, so dem caan trick me, he said.

However, Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group, Outrage, has the signatures of Moses Davis (signed March 23, 2007), Miguel Collins (June 15, 2007) and C. Bailey (no date) on the Reggae Compassionate Act documents which explicitly state that to this end, we agree to not make statements or perform songs that incite hatred or violence against anyone from any community.

"They also agree that they will not make homophobic public statements. Beenie Man insists that he signed no such document.

Maybe the promoters dem sign because dem want to promote dancehall in Europe and if dem have to sign so that the man dem ease up offa we, then that dem a go do. They know that is Jamaica we live and how we feel about that lifestyle, but it is about getting dancehall out there, and to the world, Beenie Man said.

Why would I sign when I am going to continue to perform these songs I have. I know that if the vibes lick me, and me decide fi do a song, mi not going to be able to do it, because mi dun sign already so that is why me nah go sign. No compromise. My ting ah my ting. Me know about me. Mi already tell dem at dem big press conference in Spain, fi dem lifestyle ah fi dem lifestyle, and that is not wholesome to my lifestyle. Mi love woman, mi no love man, Jah, he said.

Mi caan sell out dancehall, ah that mi sing, straight, Beenie Man said. The gays dem no have no visa power, dem no have no police power, demo no have dem power de fi stop dancehall, dem caan get me fi sign nothing fi compromise my beliefs.

Efforts to get in contact with the management team of Sizzla and Capleton proved futile as both artistes were said to be on tour in Europe. Despite Beenies claims that the gay movement is not that powerful, so far, the Stop Murder Music campaign has been able to marshal forces to disrupt the lives and livelihoods of reggae artiste. The campaign has resulted in the cancellation of dozens of the singers' concerts and sponsorship deals, causing them income losses.