Bruce Springsteen is canceling a concert. Not because he’s fallen ill, or because the show in question—slated to take place this Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina—didn’t sell enough tickets.
The singer and his E Street Band will be skipping the stage this weekend in Greensboro in protest, he announced today (April 8). Springsteen opposes a controversial new law passed by state governor Pat McCrory last month that requires transgender people to use restrooms according to the gender listed on their birth certificates, instead of their self-identified gender.
Springsteen, whose music frequently touches on the trials of ordinary American life, joins a growing number of groups that have taken a stand against the law, including The National Basketball Association, American Airlines, and an array of US politicians. Online payments company PayPal had planned to bring 400 jobs to North Carolina, but withdrew its plans for expansion this week, saying the state’s new law “violates the values and principles” of the company.
Here’s a Facebook post from Springsteen explaining his decision to cancel of the Greensboro concert.
“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 …
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.”
People who purchased tickets for the concert—an estimated 15,000— will be eligible for a refund, according to Springsteen’s statement.