North Carolina just passed a law that prevents transgender people from using bathrooms corresponding to the gender with which they identify. They must use bathrooms of the gender on their birth certificates. The law, coined House Bill 2 (HB2), also states that North Carolinians may no longer file discrimination lawsuits in state courts, subjecting them to a much more restrictive federal court system.
HB2 has incited a state-wide civil liberties battle that, most notably headlined in Bruce Springsteen canceling a show that had been scheduled to take place in Greensboro on Sunday night in order to “show solidarity” with people affected by the “bathroom law.” Hollywood actors, Washington politicians, and various other musicians have applauded Bruce for taking a stand against what many classify as prejudice and bigotry.
The statement from Bruce’s website:
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.
That’s why they call him The Boss.