Springsteen Cancels NC Concert in Protest of Law ‘Attacking the Rights of LGBT Citizens’
Many celebrities have taken public stands recently against anti-gay legislation in a number of states, and now no less than Bruce Springsteen has cancelled an upcoming North Carolina concert over its anti-LGBT law.
The state legislature passed the HB2 law a few days ago nicknamed the “bathroom” law aimed at making sure trans people use the bathrooms of the gender they were marked down with at birth over irrational concerns about men being given the freedom to go into women’s bathrooms. It also rolled back certain protections granted to LGBT individuals.
In response, Springsteen issued a statement on his website announcing he’s calling off his planned Charlotte concert this coming Sunday and tickets will be refunded.
He specifically cites HB2 as a reason. Here’s his full statement:
As you, my fans, know I’m scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the “bathroom” law. HB2 — known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act — dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use. Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace. No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden. To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.
[image via Brian Patterson Photos/Shutterstock]
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