The Gay community has reportedly been using one of the greatest songs of reggae icon Bob Marley to imply that the legend and his contemporaries would have accepted their lifestyle.  "No Woman, no cry" is allegedly sung in gay clubs across Europe.

Gay rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, in responding to the announcement of a  'straight pride parade' in New York said, "These idiots don't realise that one of Bob Marley's most famous songs contains a coded message that supports black gay men. It's called 'No Woman No Cry.' They play the song in gay clubs and people sing along and add the words that Marley dared not say himself: 'No woman, no cry, when you got gay guy.

The "straight pride parade" is being organized by TCOOO Productions and is scheduled to be held on August 31, 2008.  The parade will take place on Eastern Parkway along the same route as the annual Caribbean labour day parade.

New reggae / dancehall sensation Jango Fresh said, "the straight pride parade is a great idea because when a song like "Hit them hard" by my label mate Stapler can be banned just because it stresses the importance of a male and a female in every family, it is a sign that heterosexuals need to wake up.

The Straight Pride Parade is a chance for heterosexuals to gather together and proudly embrace their sexuality. The parade will also allow reggae and dancehall fans who are in New York City for the Labour Day celebrations to get together and celebrate reggae, dancehall and family in love and unity. Adults are encouraged to bring their children along for the celebrations, as the event will be family oriented.

Meanwhile, Thatchell has said that his campaign is not an attack on reggae music but on a small number of reggae singers who have perverted reggae's message of peace, love and justice.  "The organisers are semi-literate frauds and liars," he said. "They falsely claim that the Stop Murder Music campaign was an attack on reggae music.  They have betrayed the ideals of the reggae pioneers and are hijacking the genre to turn it into an anthem of homophobic hatred and violence. They are encouraging civil war in the black community."

Still, TCOOO Productions is getting a lot of support for staging the Straight Pride Parade as thousands of fans have already committed to attending the parade in August. All the artists who are on the latest TCOOO release "18 Karate Reggae: Global Warming" will be performing at the parade. These artists include Stapler, Jango Fresh, Vineyard the Rebel Priest, Massicker and Zeego Zaro.