Former Beatle Ringo Starr called off a June 18 concert at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina in protest over passage of House Bill 2.
The bill, which restricts protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, was passed during a Republican-led special session on March 23. Gov. Pat McCrory signed the bill into law.
Last week, Bruce Springsteen canceled his planned April 10 show at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina for the same reason.
Starr’s management said that, like Springsteen, the former Beatles drummer stands with those fighting against the bigotry of the new law.
“I’m sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred. Spread peace and love,” Starr, 75, said in a statement. “How sad that they feel that this group of people cannot be defended.”
HB2 has been criticized for ordering transgender people to use restrooms designated “male” or “female” based on the gender listed on their birth certificates instead of their current sexual identity. The legislation also makes it more difficult for transgenders to sue employers if they feel their civil rights have been violated.
Earlier this week, Bryan Adams called off an April 14 show at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., in protest of a similar law in that state.
“I cannot in good conscience perform in a state where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation,” Adams wrote on his website.
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