The words of old campaigner Peter Tatchell:
"I am both perplexed and angered by the storm of controversy over the sweet Christmas pop song, Fairytale of New York by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl. The furore is not about the use of the word "faggot" in the lyrics, but the fact that BBC Radio 1 decided to bleep out the f-word. Critics decried it as censorship and an attack on free speech.
A BBC online poll asked the public whether the word "faggot" should be deleted. Over 95% said no. They believe that singing the word faggot is acceptable. Faced with this deluge of criticism, Radio 1 caved in and rescinded its bleep-out. This looks like capitulation to mass pressure, rather than a rational, consistent policy decision....
I don't favour heavy-handed bans. I draw the line at words that incite violence and murder, not at language that is merely prejudiced.
Source
So why is he bothered about the song? How can it both contain "words that incite violence and murder" and also be a "sweet Christmas pop song"? He accuses others of double standards but he appears to have double thinking!
More background here
