Maroon 5 cancel concerts in North Carolina over anti-LGBT laws

Maroon 5 have become the latest to take a stand against anti-LGBT laws in the US after cancelling two upcoming shows in North Carolina, Gay Star News reports.

The band, who had planned to play shows in Charlotte and Raleigh during their Maroon V Tour in September, revealed that they would be cancelling the shows in protest at North Carolina’s recently introduced ‘HB2’ law, which eliminates anti-discrimination protections for transgender people and controversially forces them to use the bathroom of their ‘birth’ gender.

Yesterday (May 20) the band issued a small statement on their website, announcing the decision of cancelling the shows.

“We have announced that we will be cancelling our upcoming shows in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina because of the recent passage of the HB2 legislation.”

Maroon 5 North Carolina

“This was a difficult decision for us to make as a band. We don’t want to penalise our fans in North Carolina by not performing for them, but in the end it comes down to what we feel is morally right.”

Lead singer of the band, Adam Levine has a gay brother, Michael, and in an interview with Out, Adam said:

“Trust me, you’re born with it. My brother is gay, and we knew when he was two. We all knew.”

Maroon 5 join other musical heavyweights like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Ringo Starr in cancelling gigs in states with discriminatory laws.

Other acts such ad Mumford & Sons and Cyndi Lauper have shown their support by donating the proceeds of shows played in the offending states to LGBT organisations, and to those fighting the bills through legal means.

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