NEW YORK (AP) ? A reggae concert meant to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS is coming under fire from gay activists incensed at the inclusion of two artists they consider anti-gay.

Dancehall reggae artists Beenie Man and the group T.O.K. are among those scheduled to perform at the July 18 show at Manhattan?s Webster Hall. Protesters have asked the concert?s organiser, LIFEbeat ? The Music Industry Fights AIDS, to drop them or force them to publicly denounce controversial song lyrics.

?The idea that they would invite artists who encourage murdering gays and lesbians is so outrageous, insulting and unbelievable,? activist Keith Boykin said.

Concert organisers rejected the anti-gay lyrics, but said including the popular performers would allow them to reach a wider audience.

?By both artists agreeing to perform at an HIV/AIDS prevention concert in 2006 shows they have recognised the devastation this disease has had on their communities and that they want to effect some positive change,? said John Canelli, LIFEbeat?s executive director.

He added that the artists agreed before the protests not to use any ?potentially offensive lyrics? at the show. The artists are not being paid.

The Jamaican culture that gave birth to reggae is extremely hostile to homosexuals. Anti-gay lyrics became a major issue years ago after Buju Banton released the song ?Boom Bye Bye.? Less than a week ago, British concerts by Buju and Beenie were cancelled after activists said the artists had reneged on an agreement to stop using anti-gay lyrics.

Beenie Man and T.O.K. have released songs that speak pejoratively of gays, who in Jamaica are called by slang terms such as ?chi-chi? men and women or ?batty? boys. The Beenie Man song ?Han Up Deh? calls for a lesbian to be hanged, while T.O.K?s song ?Chi Chi Man? suggests the burning of gay men.

In a statement, T.O.K. said it has ?definitely matured over the years, and our music and its subject matter reflects that.?

A Beenie Man statement said, ?AIDS is an epidemic that doesn?t discriminate. It?s not a gay or a straight thing, it is a fight for life, and I?m proud to stand with LIFEbeat in the fight against a disease that exists regardless of one?s sex, race or sexual orientation.?

Reggae expert Rob Kenner, an editor-at-large at Vibe magazine, said dancehall lyrics suffer from ?quick and sloppy translations? by detractors.

The lyrics, Kenner said, go beyond homosexuality and address issues of spirituality, empowerment and family unity.

?When you become versed in the music form that they practice then you start to understand what the words they?re saying really mean,? Kenner said.

?If Beenie Man and T.O.K. were really the monsters the protesters portray them to be, their music careers would?ve ended long ago and they would?ve been locked up long ago.?