Bruce Springsteen cancels North Carolina concert over state's LGBT law, says 'some things are more important than a rock show.'
Bruce Springsteen has canceled Sunday's North Carolina concert in Greensboro over the state's passage of a controversial law that prevents transgender people from suing over discrimination and bans them using the bathroom of their choice.
“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,” Springsteen said in a statement Friday.
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“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.”
In tribute to those working to overturn the law, “I feel that this a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters,” Springsteen said. “As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10.”
On social media, many fans were both supportive. Those in North Carolina were both.
"As a gay man living in NC and a very dedicated Springsteen fan, I am simultaneously extremely happy and extremely disappointed to hear this," posted Nick Melton.
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The Boss is not alone in his decision. This week, PayPal canceled plans to open a global operations in Charlotte that would have employed 400 people, saying the new state law “perpetuates discrimination and it violates the values and principles that are at the core of PayPal’s mission and culture,” according the firm’s president, Dan Schulman.
Several mayors and governors in New York, Washington state and Vermont have banned government-funded travel to the state.
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