On Friday, Bruce Springsteen has canceled a concert in North Carolina scheduled for this weekend. He did it in protest of the new state law that restricted bathroom use by transgender individuals. Springsteen has also objected to the same type of bill proposed in Tennessee.
In an online statement, the country rock star said the law in North Carolina was "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."
According to his official website, the tickets already sold for Sunday's concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, will be refunded in full.
In his official website, Springsteen wrote: "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."
"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," Springsteen added.
In the provisions of the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, also called HB2, transgender individuals are required to use restrooms corresponding to their birth certificate. The rights of the LGBT community within the workplace are also affected by this prohibition.
By this move, the country music star effectively joins the growing number of companies and artists, including the NBA and the NHL, to speak out against HB2.
North Carolina's bathroom law has also attracted criticisms from business leaders. Paypal Holdings Inc referred to the discriminatory character of the law when it cancelled its new operations center on Tuesday. The center was supposed to employ 400 workers from Charlotte.
Likewise on Friday, Miley Cyrus, another music star, together with Ty Herndon, Emmylou Harris and Cherry Wright lent their voices in fighting the proposed Tennessee bathroom bill.
