Brighton has become the first UK town to officially ban licensed venues from playing anti-gay or hate lyrics.

I've always been a little uncomfortable with the campaign against dancehall. But I've always been very uncomfortable with some of the extremely violent lyrics as well. So is this a good or a bad thing? I'd hate to have to vote on it.

www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=12600

I live in Brighton, and remember when this first came up a while ago when Buju Banton wanted to play here. It is a really difficult one, but I feel that people have free choice and vote with their feet. I certainly wouldn't want to go to a gig that promoted violence, racisim or homophobia.

neither do i, which is why i'll never attend a cliff richard concert ever again!!

lyrics that have such content are not my cup of tea. I would not go to the gig or buy the record.

However, there are issues with freedom of speech and expression. I well remember the case against 2 Live Crew Stateside. In the end, the rappers and the American Bill of Rights won.

The problem for me is the "slippery slope". Once you ban one thing, where do you stop? History, sadly, shows us that restrictions of artistic expression and freedom of speech can have grave consequences.

This is always the most difficult type of debate for me. I hate any form of bigotry, but I also hate censorship. Always has me stumped. Can anyone help me make my mind up?

The problem as I see it, is lyrics that are mis-contrused which is so often the case, to the extent of which Tom Robinson`s "Glad to Be Gay" could be, should one wish.
Censorship in this context is very unlikely to be any more accurate than any other form.

Does "Gay Bar"(Electric 6), get banned or not? That song is probably actually pretty much a benchmark lyric.
It could be seen as pro-gay or anti-gay depending on ones listening mood.