Bruce Springsteen has cancelled a concert in North Carolina over a controversial anti-LGBT law.
The new law, North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, states that everyone should use facilities matching their birth gender. Under the law, all public institutions must post signs designating that bathrooms and locker rooms are to be used only based on biological sex.
Voice your opposition of discriminatory legislation like #HB2 by contacting your elected officials. Find them here: https://t.co/OBpJsZpXRi
— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) April 8, 2016
The law was recently pushed through North Carolina’s general assembly. It has come in for severe criticism, with many major businesses including Bank of America and American Airlines, which are based in Charlotte, condemning it.
It caused PayPal to cancel plans to open a new operation centre, which would have employed more than 400 people.
Springsteen was scheduled to perform in Greensboro on Sunday, but in a statement on his website he said he was cancelling the show because he wanted “to show solidarity for those freedom fighters” protesting against the law.
It's about human rights. A big leap forward for the #lgbtq community. Good decision @springsteen
— Nils Lofgren (@nilslofgren) April 8, 2016
The 66-year-old rock legend said: “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.”
The move from Springsteen has seen him receive a lot of backing from celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres and James Corden.
I â¤ï¸ Bruce @Springsteen.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) 8 April 2016
Just when you couldn't love @springsteen anymore! What a man. pic.twitter.com/AT1ChPnE77
— James Corden (@JKCorden) 8 April 2016
"Some things are more important than a rock show and this LGBT fight is one of them" Why we call him The Boss. pic.twitter.com/TqesAFq2wa
— Billy Bragg (@billybragg) 8 April 2016
This is why he is the Boss - @springsteen doing the right thing pic.twitter.com/eaXaN8S9rn
— John Bishop (@JohnBishop100) 9 April 2016
Springsteen apologised for cancelling the show and said tickets will be refunded.
