North Carolina's anti-LGBT law has become a huge talking point in the US and has drawn its fair share of critics, both locally and internationally.

The law orders that people must use bathrooms based on the gender they were assigned at birth, not as it is currently stated. Therefore, those who have transitioned must use the bathroom of their original gender - even if they no longer identify as that gender.

The Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act was just voted into law and, already, it's had huge backlash from all quarters. Internet giant PayPal pulled out of plans to build a global operations center in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the law was enacted.

Now, Bruce Springsteen cancelled his concert scheduled for tomorrow night in response to the controversial law and posted a full statement on Facebook.

Here it is:

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.

Bruce's gesture has already made waves in the music industry, with many praising the Boss' stand on the discriminative law.

Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres, Nils Lofgren, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Corden, Billy Bragg and many others have all tweeted their support of the Boss.

 

 

Bruce Springsteen is due to play Croke Park on May 27th and May 29th this year.

 

Via Facebook