The Multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning group, Maroon 5, recently announced that they’ll be canceling their upcoming show in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, according to their website.
In the release, out on May 20, Maroon 5 explained their decision that “because of the recent passage of the HB2 legislation. This was a difficult decision for us to make as a band.”
House Bill 2 repeals Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance, prevents other towns from passing their own nondiscrimination ordinances, prevents transgender people from being able to use the restroom that matches the gender they live every day, and even prevents cities from adopting living wage ordinances.
Maroon 5 further explained their decision: “We don’t want to penalize our fans in North Carolina by not performing for them, but in the end it comes down to what we feel is morally right.”
The legislation they passed and signed by Governor Pat McCrory blocks all LGBT non-discrimination ordinances passed by any local government across the entire state, and protects businesses that discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
“HB2 is a blatant, unconstitutional attack on the transgender community in North Carolina and we call for its immediate repeal. We must come together as a community to organize and support each other to make North Carolina safe for all of its citizens,” said Ivy Hill, LGBT Rights Toolkit Coordinator for the Campaign for Southern Equality, via a former TRT story.
More than 180 leading CEOs and business executives of major companies, including Apple, Bank of America, and Marriot International have called for HB 2’s repeal. The law has led Paypal to cancel a major expansion that would have brought more than 400 jobs to North Carolina and Deutsche Bank to halt plans to add 250 jobs in the state. Major artists and shows, including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Cirque du Soleil, and Pearl Jam, have cancelled performances in North Carolina as a result of HB2, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver also said in late April that the league will move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte if the law is not repealed.
To check out the list of Maroon 5 2016 North American Tour dates, click here. Follow Maroon 5 on Twitter and Instagram (#M5OnTheRoad), for a chance to win tickets to one of the shows.
