Former Beatles superstar Ringo Starr has pulled out of a gig in North Carolina because of its anti-LGBT laws.
Another rock legend has pulled out of a gig in the US state of North Carolina because of its discriminatory laws against LGBT people.
The star’s decision to pull out of a gig follows Bruce Springsteen and PayPal‘s decisions to effectively boycott the state.
Ringo Starr, 75, the former drummer for The Beatles, released a statement in which he stated,
“I’m sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred. Spread peace and love.”
“How sad that they feel that this group of people cannot be defended.”
Last month North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed a law which will allow business owners to discriminate against LGBT people on the grounds of religious belief.
The law also requires trans people to use the public toilet that aligns with the gender that is on their birth certificate.
Canadian rocker Bryan Adams cancelled a concert in Mississippi in protest over a similar law which is due to be enacted in July.
Calls on social media have asked that gay icon Dolly Parton follow in Springsteen’s steps and cancel her upcoming date in Greensboro, North Carolina. The star has yet to make a statement on whether she will cancel on continue with her date.
A spokesman for the venue, Andrew Brown, speaking about Springsteen’s cancellation, told CNN that no other performer had threatened to pull out over the measure,
“Obviously we’re concerned, but this is the first cancelation we’ve had.”
