Bryan Adams has cancelled a concert in Mississippi in protest of the state’s ‘Religious Liberty’ bill.
The 56-year-old singer was due to perform at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi on April 14; however, in a statement posted on his social media pages, Bryan explained that he made the decision to pull the gig because he disagrees so strongly with the 1523 bill which allows business, religiously-affiliated organisations and individuals the opportunity to deny service to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people, single mothers or anyone who offends their “sincerely held religious belief”.
The law, which was passed last week and will take effect in July, has been described as the most aggressive anti-LGBT law in America.
“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,” Bryan wrote. “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 14 April show at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.”
Bryan continued with his post to explain he’s hoping his decision will help draw attention to the state’s “extremely discriminatory” law.
“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,” he concluded, adding the hashtag “#?stop1523”.
Bryan’s statement comes just days after Bruce Springsteen hit headlines for cancelling a show in North Carolina over the weekend because of the state’s “bathroom” law, which dictates the bathrooms that can be used by transgender people.
“Taking all of this into account,” Bruce wrote on his official website, “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.”
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