By Steve Marinucci
April 14, 2016
Ringo Starr became the latest to protest a controversial new law in North Carolina by announcing in a statement issued on April 13 that he was canceling an upcoming concert by himself and the All-Starr Band in the state. House Bill 2 law says the LBGT community can use only the bathroom of the sex listed on their birth certificate. The statement's posting on his Facebook page has received over 18,000 likes since Wednesday.
The concert was scheduled for June 18 at Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, North Carolina. “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 said. “How sad that they feel that this group of people cannot be defended." His statement also asked his fans to support those working to overturn the law.
Starr becomes the latest to object to the law, which was passed by the state legislature in reaction to a bill in Charlotte, North Carolina, that would have allowed transgender people to use the restroom of the gender they identify with. Bruce Springsteen recently canceled a concert in the state because of the bill. In a statement, he said, “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.”
In addition to the LBGT section, the law also includes provisions restricting expanding work anti-discrimination protections. It was pushed through the state's General Assembly in a special session, according to CNN.
Fox and A&E have also recently threatened to not film any projects in the state because of the law, according to Variety. The NBA has also threatened to move its All-Star Game in 2017 unless the law is repealed. Hundreds of North Carolina residents participated in a rally in Raleigh on April 8 objecting to the law, ABC 11 reported. The ACLU has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law, according to NPR.
Tickets purchased for the June 18 concert through the box office using a credit card and also by phone or online will be refunded automatically to the original credit card holder, the venue said. But those purchased with cash must be returned to the box office for a refund.
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