Springsteen, Bryan Adams Cancel Gigs Over Anti-Gay Laws

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Bryan Adams has joined Bruce Springsteen in cancelling a scheduled performance in protest over anti-gay legislation.

 

Adams cancelled a schduled performance in Mississippi this week, citing the state’s ‘religious conscience claus‘ which allows businesses or individuals to deny service to gay couples on religious grounds.

The Canadian singer released a statement on Sunday night saying that he couldn’t “in good conscience” perform in a state where “certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation.”

Adams joined Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, who this week cancelled a schduled performance “to show solidarity for those freedom fighters” protesting North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act.

Under the Act all public institutions must post signs designating that bathrooms and locker rooms are to be used only based on biological sex.

Bryan Adams cancelled a scheduled performance at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi

“Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments,” Springsteen said in a statement posted on his website. “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.”

North Carolina representative called the cancellation a “bully tactic” by Springsteen. “Bruce is known to be on the radical left and he’s got every right to be so, but I consider this a bully tactic. It’s like when a kid gets upset and says he’s going to take his ball and go home.”

Former Sopranos actor and E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt spoke out about the band’s decision to cancel at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday.

“We just felt the issue was just too important,” Van Zandt said. “This really vile and evil discrimination is starting to spread state to state and we thought, ‘We better take a stand right now and catch it early.'”

© 2016 GCN (Gay Community News). All rights reserved.

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