The Music & TV Stars Making A Stand Against North Carolina And Mississippi’s Anti-LGBT Laws

By now you’ve probably heard the news that both Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams have cancelled shows in North Carolina and Mississippi in protest against both states’ new laws, which discriminate against members of the LGBT community. Here we take a look at both laws and how various stars are standing up to them.

North Carolina

The law: HB2

HB2 was passed on March 23, 2016 by North Carolina’s General Assembly, with a victory of 83-24, after only three hours of debate. It stops local governments from applying laws that prevent discrimination towards LGBT people (those who are fired because they are gay cannot sue, for example) and also requires transgender people to use bathrooms that match their biological gender, not their gender identity. Three people have filed a lawsuit against the law, calling it unconstitutional.

The response:

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Bruce Springsteen cancels 23,500-capacity North Carolina show
Springsteen released a statement on Friday April 8 explaining why he would be cancelling his show on Sunday 10: “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.”

Celebrities line up behind Bruce

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Joel McHale donates his stand-up earnings to LGBTQ center in Durham, North Carolina
McHale explained he’d been considering cancelling his North Carolina show but thought performing would highlight the problem further. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asked the crowd jokingly.

I encourage you to share my post on #joelmchale donating his entire paycheck from the DPAC gig to the LGBTQ Center of…

Posted by Michele Cochrane on Saturday, 9 April 2016


Porn site xHamster blocks North Carolina IP addresses with message
Getting ‘em when they least expect it.

Jimmy Buffett and Brandi Carlile explain why they haven’t cancelled shows
Said Buffett: “I am not going to let stupidity or bigotry trump fun for my loyal fans this year. We will be playing in Raleigh and Charlotte next week.”
Carlile appreciated Springsteen’s efforts, but acknowledged that as a smaller artist it didn’t make sense for her to cancel, and she could raise awareness in a different way.

Bruce Springsteen and North CarolinaAs I’m crossing over the state line into the beautiful state of Massachusetts…

Posted by Brandi Carlile on Sunday, 10 April 2016

Mississippi

The law: HB1523

HB1523 was signed into law by the state governor, Phil Bryant, on April 5. It’s called the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act, and it holds that marriage is between a man and woman, sex is “properly reserved to such a marriage” and the words “male” and “female” are “objectively determined by anatomy and genetics at birth”.

The law gives anyone the right to discriminate against LGBT people (or even unmarried couples) by refusing them a range of services. The justification for this is apparently “sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions”. Apart from the plain bigotry of it, it’s also very bad news for Mississippi’s reputation.

The response:

It will affect education in the state
A University of Mississippi professor named Ivo Kamps has said the law “will have a chilling effect on our ability to recruit students and faculty”.

And services…
Restaurants have had to put up signs saying ‘Everyone welcome here’

The state is likely to lose federal funding (as is North Carolina)
The White House Press Secretary, Josh Earnest, has labeled the law “outright mean-spirited” and confirmed that the legality of North Carolina’s law was being investigated, with its federal funding facing cuts in the billions of dollars. “You’d have to actually ask the individual agencies for a time frame about when a decision will be made [about North Carolina],” he said. “You’d also have to ask those agencies about whether or not the law that apparently was signed into law in Mississippi would trigger a similar review.”

Bryan Adams, following Springsteen’s footsteps, has cancelled a 11,500-capacity gig

Springsteen’s guitarist Stevie Van Zandt backs him up

A load of huge companies have urged the governor to reconsider
They include Coca Cola, Pepsi, Intel, HP, Whole Foods, GE, Levis, and Nissan. See their letter here:
“Put simply, HB 1523 is not a bill that reflects the values of our companies.

“We are disappointed to see the legislature and governor’s office pass discriminatory legislation. The business community, by and large, has consistently communicated to lawmakers at every level that such laws are bad for our employees and bad for business. This is not a direction in which states move when they are seeking to provide successful, thriving hubs for business and economic development. We believe that HB 1523 will make it far more challenging for businesses across the state to recruit and retain the nation’s best and brightest workers and attract the most talented students from across the country. It will also diminish the state’s draw as a destination for tourism, new businesses, and economic activity.

“Discrimination is wrong, and we believe it has no place in Mississippi or anywhere in our country. As companies that pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming to all, we strongly urge you to repeal this bill.”

Ellen Degeneres has also laid into the law on her show:

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