Bruce Springsteen cancels North Carolina gig in protest of state's discriminatory bathroom bill
LatestWhen The Boss says you’ve screwed up, maybe it’s time to pay attention.
Bruce Springsteen announced Friday he is canceling his April 10 show in Greensboro, North Carolina, in protest of that state’s recent passage of HB2 (what’s been colloquially dubbed “the bathroom bill”), which requires transgender individuals to use public restrooms that align with the sex listed on their birth certificate, regardless of how that person self-identifies.
In a statement posted to his website, Springsteen writes:
To my mind, [HB2] is 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.
As news of The Boss’ decision broke, people took to Twitter to cheer Bruce on.
Springsteen’s announcement comes on the heels of another high-profile reaction to HB2 (officially title: the “Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act”) on the part of online money transfer service PayPal, which earlier thid week cited the bill as the reason for pulling out of plans to open up a multi-million dollar facility in Charlotte, which would have reportedly employed nearly 400 workers.
In addition to PayPal, a number of other major companies have voiced their opposition to the bill, including American Airlines, Apple, and Hulu, which canceled the filming of an upcoming series in the state.
Springsteen’s announcement also comes just one day after NBA Hall of Famer and basketball analyst Charles Barkley called on the NBA to relocate the league’s 2017 All-Star Game in protest of the bill.
Speaking with CNN, Barkley explained, “As a black person, I’m against any form of discrimination—against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it. It’s my job, with the position of power that I’m in and being able to be on television—I’m supposed to stand up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves.”