Boston Cancels 3 Shows in N.C. Over Anti-LGBT Law

The iconic classic rock band announced today that it is refusing to play any shows in North Carolina in protest of an anti-LGBT law.

Boston, known for classic '70s hits such as "More Than a Feeling," has canceled three shows scheduled for May in North Carolina in protest of House Bill 2.

Tom Scholz, the founder of Boston, apologized to fans who bought tickets in a statement posted on Facebook. "The removal of the shows from our schedule is a major disappointment. It has always been my wish to inspire people with BOSTON's music," Scholz wrote.

HB 2 was passed in March and nullifies LGBT-inclusive municipal antidiscrimination ordinances, while preventing cities and counties from enacting new ones. It also bars transgender people from using the restrooms, locker rooms, and other single-sex facilities that match their gender identity, if those facilities are in government buildings, including public schools. And it prohibits residents from filing discrimination suits in state court.

The band opposes HB 2 because it targets "a small minority, who already have to deal with a narrow-minded world regarding issues beyond their control which they did nothing to bring upon themselves." The band wants to send a message of support to their LGBT fans by opposing the law because "it is likely that some members of our audience and/or their loved ones are affected on a daily basis by this ugly expression of intolerance," members of the group said.

"Hopefully the sacrifices we are all making here will inspire people to do the right thing in the future. We look forward to the day that the state government of North Carolina will come to its senses and treat ALL individuals with equal freedom in their pursuit of happiness here in the United States," wrote Boston on Facebook.

Boston joins a growing list of entertainers who refuse to perform in the state, such as Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr, in opposition to HB 2.