Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Concert Over Anti-Gay 'Bathroom Bill'
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Bruce Springsteen has canceled a concert in Greensboro, N.C., over a controversial "bathroom bill".
Springsteen released a statement Friday on his Facebook saying HB2, known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, is "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."
The backlash against North Carolina is growing. Springsteen Friday became the latest big name to lend his name to the boycott of the state.
In a statement on his website that has since gone viral, he said, "Some things are more important than a rock show." That statement spawned countless memes.
People who bought tickets to Springsteen's concert will get refunds.
Last month, Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill, which prohibits 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.
The bill is considered anti-gay and businesses and the Hollywood community have taken the state to task.
Similar bills in Mississippi and Georgia have met with similar blow back.
The most talked-about provision of the bill in North Carolina would make it a law that would require people to use public bathrooms matching their gender at birth.
Supporters of the law say it protects privacy.
CBS2's Erica Nochlin reports several California companies have already announced plans to pull out of the state, namely Lionsgate Films and PayPal.
LA Metro's CEO is also making a strong statement against the law.
He sent an email to employees last month letting they know they cannot attend a conference to be held in North Carolina, at least not on Metro's dime.
She spoke to riders Friday evening who had mixed emotions.
"I'll boycott it all day, I don't think it's fair, those people want to love who they want to love," said one man.
"They would send LGBTQIA identify folks that work for Metro –send them there, that's more of a stronger message than completely boycotting and not going at all. I think that's what Metro should do," said another.
"He's big in the music industry and if someone like him, if he's going to show he cares about it, maybe it will bring about other people, other famous people to be for cause of LGBT," said Metro rider Michael Rittiger II.