The legendary rock band from Seattle, Pearl Jam, has canceled a North Carolina concert scheduled for April 20, in a protest against the state’s recently passed law against the LGBT community.
Pearl Jam cancelled a concert in Raleigh, North Carolina to show their disapproval of the law known as The Bathroom bill. The band issued a written statement to their fan-base explaining in full detail their position on the matter.
The Bathroom bill law
The state of North Carolina passed a sweeping law that reversed a previous law made by the Charlotte ordinance. The law granted and extended some rights to the LGBT community.
The previously passed law protected, especially transgender people, in the use of public restrooms based on their personal gender identity, while also protecting members from the LGBT community.
According to the law, regulations were going to be made in a series of laws to regulate workplace discrimination, use of public accommodations and minimum wage standards for transgender and gay citizens
Written statement and rejection towards the HB2 law
The band issued a handwritten statement to their fan base in where they rejected the state’s decision assuring that, “The HB2 law that was recently passed is a despicable piece of legislation that encourages discrimination against an entire group of American citizens.”
The band explained how the HB2 law had a negative impact on basic human rights and made America a non-free country, denying protection for the LGBT community and allowing them to be fired and mistreated for who they love and who they are.
Currently in the legislation, there are no written laws that actually protect gay citizens nor-denies workplaces or shops to discriminate someone based on their sexual preferences, despite the approval of equal marriage in the country.
The band members assured this law was targeting the basic rights of this part of the population and was stripping away nondiscrimination protection for them.
“In addition to harming LGBT North Carolinians, the law limits the ability to municipalities to provide living wages above what the state provides, closes the door on state courts as a recourse for employment nondiscrimination claims and imposes the values of Raleigh lawmakers on local elected officials and the people they serve,” wrote the band in the recently issued statement.
Other artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr have cancelled their shows in the state protesting against the bill. Money raising is also being made by artists to support local protesters
Source: Rolling Stone