Pearl Jam have cancelled their concert in Raleigh, North Carolina because of North Carolina’s controversial LGBT bill, according their website. They also posted a hand written note on Twitter.
It's with deep consideration & much regret that we must cancel the Raleigh, NC show on 4/20: bit.ly/pj-nc2016 https://t.co/P89wysiNFe—
Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) April 18, 2016
“The HB2 law that was recently passed is a despicable piece of legislation that encourages discrimination against an entire group of American citizens. The practical implications are expansive and its negative impact upon basic human rights is profound.” the statement reads. “We want America to be a place where no one can be turned away from a business because of who they love or fired from their job for who they are.”
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill, called the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, after it was passed by the North
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam perform onstage during 2015 Global Citizen Festival to end extreme poverty by 2030 in Central Park on September 26, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Carolina Senate. The law was in response to Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance that allowed transgender individuals to use public bathrooms of the sex with which they identify.
The bill blocks transgender individuals from using public bathrooms that match their gender identity and stops cities from passing anti-discrimination ordinances to protect gay and transgender people.
In an announcement Tuesday, McCrory said he’d signed an executive order “to protect privacy and equality.”
The executive order, McCrory says, “expands the state’s employment policy for state employees to cover sexual orientation and gender identity” and “seeks legislation to reinstate the right to sue in state court for discrimination.”
Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr have also cancelled concerts in North Carolina due to the controversial LGBT bill.
