Ringo Starr is the latest artist to take a stand against North Carolina's anti-LBGTQ bathroom law HB2 that is the harshest in the country and many believe unfairly discriminates against transgender individuals especially. The Beatles drummer has canceled his June 18 All Starr tour date at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina in response.
"I'm sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred. Spread peace and love," wrote Starr in a press release.
"How sad that they feel that this group of people cannot be defended," the Beatles drummer added.
Starr is the latest musician to speak out against the law that has sparked outrage among the entertainment and business communities who want nothing to do with a discriminatory law thinly disguised to "protect" others under the aura of religious liberty.
Bruce Springsteen was the most notable artist to cancel his show in North Carolina, calling the law, "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."
While Ringo's cancellation may not have the impact on local ticket sales that Bruce Springsteen had, it should put pressure on local promoters that they will need to lobby to get the law repealed.
Other artists like Gregg Allman, Brandi Carlile, Cyndi Lauper and Jimmy Buffet have all spoken out against the law, but did not cancel their respective North Carolina performances. They framed it as a obligation to their fans not the government of North Carolina, specifically Governor Pat McCrory, who has changed his tone on the law in the past few days
Paypal has also taken a stand, saying they won't open a new office in the state, costing it hundreds of quality jobs, while the NBA pulled the All-Star Game from Charlotte next year.
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