Many have spoken out against North Carolina's recently passed "Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act," which now prohibits transgendered people from using public bathrooms that don't match the "biological sex" listed on their birth certificate. This now includes rock'n'roll veteran Bruce Springsteen, who has cancelled an upcoming show in the Tar Heel State to protest the law.
Springsteen was to have played Greensboro, NC's Greensboro Coliseum this Sunday (April 10), but he reports in a statement through his website that he has decided to pull out of the show because of the state's recently passed House Bill 2. He's doing this to show support for the LGBTQ community.
"No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden," he wrote of the "bathroom law," adding, "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 Boss goes on to apologize to his fans, but added that "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."
You'll find Springsteen's statement in full below.
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 recognizing 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.
As previously reported, Springsteen is currently on tour playing his beloved The River collection in full. You'll find info on the remaining dates, sans this weekend's stop in Greensboro, over here.
Springsteen was to have played Greensboro, NC's Greensboro Coliseum this Sunday (April 10), but he reports in a statement through his website that he has decided to pull out of the show because of the state's recently passed House Bill 2. He's doing this to show support for the LGBTQ community.
"No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden," he wrote of the "bathroom law," adding, "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 Boss goes on to apologize to his fans, but added that "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."
You'll find Springsteen's statement in full below.
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 recognizing 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.
As previously reported, Springsteen is currently on tour playing his beloved The River collection in full. You'll find info on the remaining dates, sans this weekend's stop in Greensboro, over here.
