Bryan Adams Scraps Mississippi Concert Over ‘Extremely Discriminatory’ Anti-LGBT Law
Bryan Adams has canceled a show in Mississippi in a protest to the state’s passing of what has been described as the most aggressive anti-LGBT law in America.
The Canadian rocker has scrapped his April 14 date at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi following the signing into law of the “Religious Liberty” bill 1523, a first-of-its-kind measure that will allow businesses, individuals, and religiously affiliated organizations to deny service to LGBT people, single mothers and folks who manage to offend an someone’s “sincerely held religious belief.”
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In a statement posted to his social media pages, Adams said the law was “incomprehensible” and he “cannot in good conscience perform in a State where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation.”
He writes: “Mississippi has passed anti-LGBT ‘Religious Liberty’ bill 1523. I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against in the state of Mississippi. I cannot in good conscience perform in a State where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation. Therefore I’m cancelling my 14 April show at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Using my voice I stand in solidarity with all my LGBT friends to repeal this extremely discriminatory bill. Hopefully Mississippi will right itself and I can come back and perform for all of my many fans. I look forward to that day.” Adams signed off with the hashtag #?stop1523?.
Mississippi has passed anti-LGBT ‘Religious Liberty’ bill 1523. I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being…
Posted by Bryan Adams on Sunday, 10 April 2016
The “Religious Liberty” law was passed last week and will take effect in July.
Adams’ political stance is very much in line with that of Bruce Springsteen. The Boss canceled a show in North Carolina on the weekend over the state’s controversial “bathroom” law, which dictates which bathrooms transgender people are permitted to use.
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