Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Concert Over Anti-LGBT Law
"Some things are more important than a rock show," the Boss says
Tim Kenneally | April 8, 2016 @ 12:53 PM	Last Updated: April 8, 2016 @ 1:24 PM
Sorry, North Carolina — no Bruce Springsteen for you this weekend. And you can thank your lawmakers for it.
Springsteen has canceled his Greensboro, North Carolina show scheduled for Sunday, after the state passed HB2, officially known as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act.
The law "dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use," Springsteen said in a statement released on his official website Friday. "Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their rights are violated in the workplace.
Also Read: Bruce Springsteen Shakes Some Ass With His Mother in Concert (Video)
"No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden. 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," Springsteen added. "Right now, there are many groups, businesses and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments."
The "Born to Run" rocker continued, "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."
Tickets for the show will be refunded at the point of purchase.
Also Read: Bruce Springsteen to Cleveland Crowd: Hello, Pittsburgh! (Audio)
Earlier this week, Hulu pulled production of its pilot "Crushed" from North Carolina, in the wake of the legislation.
7 LGBT 'Star Wars' Characters You Probably Didn't Know Exist (Photos)
J.J. Abrams recently said that "of course" gay characters would soon be seen in the "Star Wars" galaxy. And Mark Hamill said that Luke Skywalker could be gay. But there are already several LGBT "Star Wars" characters -- at least in the galaxy of books, comics, and games.
Reess Kairn, who appeared as the villain in the 1999 comic "The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing," had undergone "transgenderative surgery" to transition from an alien male to a human woman.
Juhani (right), a lesbian cathar alien, was featured in the video game "Knights of the Old Republic" in 2004, and was the first confirmed and openly gay character in Star Wars.
Lord Cytharat is a gay Sith introduced in "Star Wars: The Old Republic" in 2013, and was the first character in the long-running online game who could share a kiss with a player character of the same gender.
Lemda is a bisexual woman introduced in "Star Wars: The Old Republic" in 2013. Players can swap numbers with her, but she never calls.
The spy Theron Shan's backstory was detailed in both comics (in 2011) and a novel (in 2012) before appearing in the video game "Star Wars: The Old Republic" in 2014 as someone that player characters could become romantically involved with, no matter their gender.
The bisexual Lana Beniko first appeared in the video game "Star Wars: The Old Republic" in 2014.
The bisexual Koth Vortena was introduced in the video game "Star Wars: The Old Republic" in 2015.
J.J. Abrams says we'll see some LGBT "Star Wars" characters soon. But here are some that die-hard fans have already met.
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