Bruce Springsteen just announced on his Facebook page that he is canceling a show in Greensboro, NC in response to the passage of HB2 — the Public Facilities Privacy and Securities Act. Apart from dictating which bathrooms transgender people can use, HB2 is a sweeping state law that nullifies efforts by local communities to provide rights and protections for the LGBT community while excluding LGBT persons from protection from discrimination. In the letter posted by Springsteen today he states that this law is a violation of human rights. “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,” he wrote.
He states in his letter that he understands that there are people in North Carolina trying to overcome this law, and that he wants to stand with these people. He stated, “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.”
With Paypal canceling plans to build a global operations center in Charlotte, NC earlier in the week, it will be interesting to see if more stars and companies will pull their money/entertainment out of North Carolina due to this law.
