Pepsi Sponsors Antigay Concert in Uganda?

Gay activists are questioning Pepsi for what appears to be the corporation's sponsorship of a concert performance by the antigay dancehall artist Beenie Man in Uganda on Saturday.

Jim Burroway at Box Turtle Bulletin refers to a report from the Daily Monitor, a Ugandan newspaper, that describes the appearance by the Jamaican perfomer at the Kyadondo Rugby Club in Kampala.

"The King of Dancehall stuck a sword of words into gay people through singing and talking," reported the Daily Monitor.

"In my family, we don't have any gay person but if you're gay, my brother, that's not my fault," said Beenie Man, according to the Monitor, as he performed "Mi Nah Wallah," a song in which he says he would like to cut the throats of all gay men.

According to the Monitor, "the show was sponsored by Pepsi and it doubled as the Crown Beverages' Chamuka Keys Finale with three RAV4 winners presented on stage to join 17 previous winners in receiving their car log books."

The Ugandan parliament is currently considering a bill that would punish gay people with death in some instances, leading to an international outcry.

The report about Beenie Man already has prompted the creation of an online petition, asking that Pepsi explain what appears to be its sponsorship of the event.