Bruce Springsteen’s North Carolina concert canceled because of Anti-LGBT law
American singer, Bruce Springsteen, has canceled a concert in North Carolina, Greensboro.
The concert, scheduled for this Sunday, has been canceled in response to North Carolina’s new anti-LGBT law.
HB2, which was passed and signed by the state legislature last month, bans transgender people to use the facilities of their choice.
Springsteen took to his website to explain the decision:
“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 recognising 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.”
Since canceling the show, some celebrities took to Twitter to voice their appreciation of the singers decision.
I ❤️ Bruce @Springsteen.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 8, 2016
Just when you couldn’t love @springsteen anymore! What a man. pic.twitter.com/AT1ChPnE77
— James Corden (@JKCorden) April 8, 2016