Springsteen posted the following to his website, Facebook, and Instagram today:
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.
Affinity
Art, Fun, & Nonsense.
Yay Boss!
:D I hope this motivates his fans into some right now activism.
A very principled stand. And I’m not a fan of the Boss.
Nerd@#3: I don’t like his music but he sure works his ass off out there!
Did you see how the NC politician said that since the boss was not going to show up he was going to enjoy the Justin Bieber show instead? LOL rawwwk!
That’s some morals you got there, I like them.
In related news, Belgium is about to make immigrants sign a declaration that they subscribe to “European values”. I’m wondering, will they make people from NC or Mississippi sign it as well?
The way “gay rights as a western value” gets used right now makes me want to puke more than I can eat. As if there weren’t men living still who were being incarcerated and as if LGBTQ people couldn’t tell you about the discrimination they still face.
Giliell:
Oh FFS. It’s really starting to feel like sane, non-bigoted people are the exception, not the rule.
“European values”. Why do I suspect this is a lot like “Christian values”? I’ll read your link in a bit, I’m in the middle of an art piece.
And Bryan Adams cancels Mississippi concert.
It’s good to see that some powerful cis white men not being total shitstains on history’s underwear.
Giliell @7:
Huh. I had no idea he was still around. Good for him!