North Carolina’s new anti-LGBT law leads the young stars to boycott the state.
Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas are arguably the youngest superstars to add their names to the growing list of performers boycotting North Carolina in the wake of the passage of House Bill 2.
The musicians, currently headlining the Honda Civic Tour: Future Now, Monday announced the cancellation of shows planned for Raleigh and Charlotte in June and July. Lovato and Jonas have long been supporters of LGBT rights, with both attending this month’s GLAAD Media Awards and Lovato receiving the Vanguard Award for her contributions to equality. The North Carolina cancellations were made through a statement released to the media watchdog organization:
After much thought and deliberation, Nick and I have decided to cancel our shows in Raleigh and Charlotte. One of our goals for the Honda Civic Tour: Future Now has always been to create an atmosphere where every single attendee feels equal, included, and accepted for who they are.
North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT community’s most basic rights and protections. But we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance.
We know the cancelation of these shows is disappointing to our fans, but we trust that you will stand united with us against this hateful law.
#RepealHB2
Though Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, and Boston have all canceled North Carolina shows because of HB 2, Lovato and Jonas are likely the most influential among the millennial set to do so.
“By taking a firm stand against North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law, they’re sending a clear message to fans and lawmakers alike: hate should never be tolerated,” GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.
HB 2, passed in March, nullifies LGBT-inclusive municipal antidiscrimination ordinances, while preventing cities and counties from enacting new ones. It also bars transgender people from using the restrooms, locker rooms, and other single-sex facilities that match their gender identity, if those facilities are in government buildings, including public schools. And it prohibits residents from filing discrimination suits in state court as well as barring municipalities from setting a higher minimum wage than the state.
Source: advocate.com
