Bryan Adams cancels Mississippi gig over anti-LGBT law
Pop star, Bryan Adams, cancelled a concert in Mississippi over a new anti-LGBT bill signed into law last week.
Due to take place this Thursday (April 14), the Canadian singer said that he “cannot perform in good conscience”, after Bill 1523, also known as the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act was signed into law by Governor Phil Bryant on April 5.
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
In a statement on Facebook, Bryan Adams said: “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 April 14 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.”
The 56-year-old’s decision comes only days after Bruce Springsteen cancelled his show in North Carolina over HB2, the law that bans transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice.
North Carolina Representative Mark Walker accused Springsteen of “bully tactics”.
He said: “It’s disappointing [Springsteen is] not following through on his commitments.”
“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,” he said in an interview with the Hollywood reporter.
