Bruce Springsteen cancels upcoming North Carolina concert in rebuke of the state’s new anti-LGBT law

Bruce Springsteen and his legendary E Street Band have canceled their upcoming concert in North Carolina, in a public stand against the state’s newly-passed anti-LGBT law, HB2.

Springsteen, who is now 66, said refusing to play the Greensboro show “is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.”

The musician, singer, songwriter and humanitarian in a statement on his official website and on Facebook writes, “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.”

Springsteen’s move comes amongst a throng of major businesses and organizations criticizing North Carolina’s law, which prohibits transgender people from using bathrooms that they identify with. This law also forbids local governments from extending civil rights protections to gay and transgender people.

Earlier this week, PayPal announced that it was canceling plans to open a facility in Charlotte, depriving the state of some 400 jobs and millions pumped into the local economy.

See Springsteen’s full statement below:

Featured image: Per Ole Hagen (Flickr)

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