By Keith Sharp
Canadian recording superstar, Bryan Adams, has joined forces with Bruce Springsteen in cancelling scheduled concerts in protest against anti-Gay legislation introduced by the states of North Carolina and Mississippi.
Adams has pulled the plug on his planned April 14th concert in Biloxi, Miss. in protest against legislation signed by Republican governor Phil Bryant which allows officials and businesses the right to deny marriage-related services to Gay people or refuse to employ them if they feel it would violate their religious beliefs. This legislation is due to be introduced on July 1st.
“I cannot in good conscience perform in a state where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation,” stated Adams in a statement on his Facebook.
Adams joins “The Boss” who pulled out of a scheduled concert April 10th in Greensboro, North Carolina in protest of that state’s House Bill 2 which in part requires transgender people to only use public restrooms that match the biological sex listed on their birth certificates.
“Cancelling this show was the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards,” said Springsteen in a prepared statement.:
Praising the decisions by both Springsteen and Adams, Detroit Pistons’ National Basketball Association coach Stan Van Grundy is also backing a movement for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game to be moved out of Charlotte N.C.
“This game should be moved if they don’t change the law,” announced Van Grundy. “I am really proud of Bruce and Bryan for taking that stance. Cancelling those concerts is a really outstanding move in stressing that such legislation will not be tolerated.”
Springsteen and Adams’ decisions to withdraw their collective services is expected to be just an opening salvo as entertainment and sports associations are expected to mount a tidal wave of opposition to the governments of North Carolina and Mississippi whose legislation is thought to be their reaction to the U.S Supreme Court’s decision to legalize Gay marriages nationally in June 2015.
