Brighton and Hove, renowned as the 'gay capital' of England, is the first city council in the country to take a stand against 'murder music' after two motions calling on retailers to stop the sale of music containing murderous lyrics were passed unamended and unanimously last night. (Thursday 25th November).
A Green Party motion mandates the Council to write to the managing directors of the three large specialist record chains with outlets in the city - Virgin Megastore, HMV and MVC to request they reconsider their refusal to take music off-sale that incites the murder of lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT) and other groups including women.
It also mandates the Council to write to the city's three MPs requesting that they lobby the Government for a change in the law to provide protection against incitement to hatred for LGBT people similar to that which exists for racial groups under the Race Relations Act 1976 and already exists in Northern Ireland. Another motion proposed by councillors from two other parties calls on public entertainment licence holders to note the council's opposition to playing murder music in licensed venues. (Full motions in notes to editors)
Councillor Simon Williams who tabled the Green motion said: "This unanimous vote by all parties in the Council is a significant victory in the long battle against murder and hate music. Although the Council does not have the power to force the stores to remove the music - it sends the retailers a very strong message that Brighton and Hove is a city that cares deeply about this issue.
"Murder music contributes to a climate where prejudice is seen as acceptable and this inevitably places the groups who are targeted at an increased risk of violence.
"We have a city where one in six people identify as lesbian or gay and the sale of music inciting the hanging, shooting and burning of gay people is not an acceptable part of freedom of expression.
"LGBT people - and other groups who are targeted such as women - deserve the same rights to protection as racial groups do. If this happened the record stores would be forced to take murder music off-sale. The Government should take note and introduce legislation as a matter of urgency," he added.
Councillor Bill Randall who co-tabled the Green motion said: "The Government has included proposed legislation on equalities in the recent Queen's Speech so it has the perfect opportunity to close this loophole and introduce incitement to hatred protection for LGBT people.
"We hope our city's three MPs will listen to the Council's position," he added.
Councillors Randall and Williams tabled the motion following growing concern at the refusal of the music industry to stop the production, promotion and sale of murder music. The councillors also tabled the motion following concern at recent homophobic attacks in the city and elsewhere.