"No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden," Bruce Springsteen said in a statement.

| Getty Bruce Springsteen cancels North Carolina show over LGBT law

Bruce Springsteen has canceled his weekend concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, because of the state’s passage of a controversial law that keeps transgender people from using the bathroom of their chosen gender and eliminates protections over discrimination.

“As you, my fans, know I’m scheduled to play in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday. As we also know, North Carolina has just passed HB2, which the media are referring to as the 'bathroom' law,” Springsteen said in a statement Friday. “HB2 — known officially as the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act — dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use. Just as important, the law also attacks the rights of LGBT citizens to sue when their human rights are violated in the workplace. No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden.”


He said that the passage of the law reverses the progress the United States has made in “recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens.”

“Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters,” Springsteen said. “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. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards,” he continued.

Springsteen joins businesses — including PayPal, which pulled the opening of a 400-person facility — and some state governors and mayors who are boycotting the state following the signing of the law. Retired basketball star Charles Barkley has called for next year's NBA All-Star Game, which is slated to be held in Charlotte, to be moved to another state.

"As a black person, I’m against any form of discrimination — against whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, however you want to phrase it," Barkley told CNN. "It’s my job, with the position of power that I’m in and being able to be on television, I’m supposed to stand up for the people who can’t stand up for themselves."