Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr on Wednesday announced that he was canceling a show in North Carolina in protest of a law that prohibits people from using the public facilities of the opposite sex.
“I’m sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred,” Mr. Starr said in a statement. “Spread peace and love.”
Mr. Starr was set to play on June 18 at the Koka Booth Ampitheatre in Cary, North Carolina.
He is the latest musician to cancel a show in North Carolina in response to House Bill 2, which was signed into law last month by Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and requires that people use the public restrooms and showers of their biological sex, not their preferred gender identification.
Bruce Springsteen announced last week that he would not perform in the state, followed by Bryan Adams. Jimmy Buffett and Gregg Allman have been harshly critical of the law but pointedly not canceled shows.
Mr. McCrory on Tuesday announced an executive order clarifying the law, allowing private businesses to regulate their restrooms however they please.
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But that apparently was not enough to placate Mr. Starr, who described the law as bigotry.
“How sad that they feel this group of people cannot be defended,” he said.
Other artists set to play in North Carolina soon are Beyonce and Justin Bieber.
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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