 by Julian Spivey
An important shot was fired on Friday afternoon (April 8) against North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law, known to some as the “bathroom law,” which dictates which public restrooms transgender people can use and also gives workplaces the right to exclude LGBT citizens when Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen announced the cancellation of an upcoming concert in Greensboro, N.C. that was set to take place on Sunday, April 10. Springsteen released a statement on his website that was also shared on his social media pages that in part said: “I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.” You can read his entire statement: HERE. As a huge Springsteen fan, who just witnessed his terrific concert in Oklahoma City last Sunday evening (April 3), I understand the mixed emotions that his fans in North Carolina must be going through at the moment. They were looking forward to seeing their hero and just 48 hours before the show that was taken from them, but I hope they understand the importance of this and why it needed to be done. Springsteen has always been a “man of the people.” And being a true “man of the people” means standing for the basic human rights of all people. When a state is making laws that discriminate against certain groups of people like North Carolina (and a few other states) have done the only way to truly fight against those measures are to hit people where it hurts – the pocketbooks (of the local businesses) and in the hearts (taking away pleasurable events for its citizens). This way if the politicians won’t fix their mistakes maybe the people of the states will get fed up and vote them out and find a more equality-minded option. Don’t give me this “the law is designed to keep predators and pedophiles from sharing a restroom with our wives and daughters BS” either, because statistics show there’s NEVER been a case in the U.S. where a transgender person has been convicted of assaulting somebody in a restroom. In fact, these discriminatory laws make it unsafe for transgender people, who have been assaulted in restrooms. Springsteen is the first major artist or brand to pull out of an appearance in North Carolina since HB2 was passed, but NBA commentator Charles Barkley has called for the NBA to move the All Star Game, set to take place in Charlotte in 2017, from the state and relocate it elsewhere. It’s a decision NBA commissioner Adam Silver should really think about. Springsteen’s decision to pull out of the Greensboro concert simply makes me prouder than ever to consider him my all-time favorite artist. We should celebrate artists in this country who stand for what they believe in, but often when such things take place these artists are met with statements from people like “keep your politics out of music.” Politics have always been a part of music (ever heard a Vietnam era song?) and real artists don’t shy away from their beliefs. Besides, this isn’t really a political topic anyway, it’s a human rights topic and we should all be given the same rights, no matters our sexual preference or identity. Springsteen gets this and believes fighting for these rights are more important than a great rock and roll performance. He’s absolute right and we should respect his decision. Despite the fact that he’s not hurting for money, when a man leaves this much profit opportunity on the table you know he means business. Hopefully other artists will follow Springsteen’s suit in North Carolina and other states where similar laws have been passed or are on the table to be passed. Standing together for what’s right is the only way to really see change in this country. In Oklahoma City last Sunday night I witnessed Springsteen sing these very lyrics: “The dogs on main street howl/’cause they understand/If I could take one moment into my hands/Mister, I ain’t a boy/No, I’m a man/And I believe in a promised land.” Today he took that moment into his hands and if we could all live in Springsteen’s ‘Promised Land’ we’d all be a lot better off.
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