Ringo Starr Becomes the Latest Musician to Cancel a North Carolina Concert Over the State's Anti-LGBT Law

Bruce Springsteen cancelled his concert in Greensboro last weekend.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Fomer Beatle and music icon Ringo Starr became the latest artist to cancel a concert in North Carolina in the wake of the state's anti-LGBT HB2 law today. He had planned to perform at the Koka Booth Ampitheatre in Cary, N.C. on June 18. Starr urged his fans to support him in opposing the law, saying "I'm sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred... Spread peace and love." Bruce Springsteen also announced this weekend that he would be cancelling a planned concert in Greensboro, citing the same reason.

The law, which has proved to be quite controversial, was designed to undermine the anti-discrimination ordinance adopted by the city of Charlotte. Charlotte's ordinance would have—among other things—barred discrimination against LGBT people in places of public accommodation and allowed transgender people to use restroom and locker room facilities that aligned with their gender identity. HB2 forbids municipalities in the state of North Carolina from adopting their own nondiscrimination policies or setting their own minimum wage, and strips citizens of the right to sue for a broad range of discrimination claims in state courts. It would also force transgender people in public facilities to use the bathroom of the gender on their birth certificate, which can only be changed upon full completion of gender reassignment surgery.

Latest in Music