As you might’ve heard, the whole world is pretty mad at North Carolina right about now. The legislature pushed through a sneaky, evil bill that makes life worse for just about everyone: trans people aren’t allowed to use the bathroom that matches their gender; cities aren’t allowed to protect LGBTs from discrimination; minimum wages cut; fired workers now have fewer protections.
And North Carolina is hardly the only state with legislation like this — not by a long shot. Similar bills have been passed or are under consideration all over the country. (Here’s a little background on why homophobes are pushing them now, another on how to spot these bills even when they’re camouflaged as religious liberty, and another about how to stop them.)
If this was happening a decade or two ago, most of the country would probably respond with a shrug, or maybe a “ew, gross, gay people.” But times have changed, even if North Carolina’s lawmakers haven’t. LGBTQs now have way more allies in the business and entertainment world than antigay activists can even imagine having.
Here’s a list of celebs standing against the state (beyond just sending a press release, which does little to nothing)…
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
1. Bruce Springsteen
“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,” he said.
2. Ringo Starr
“I’m sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred.”
3. Bryan Adams
Canceled a concert in Mississippi, which passed a similar bill. “Hopefully Mississippi will right itself and I can come back and to perform to all of my many fans.”
4. Sharon Stone
Canceled plans to film a movie in Mississippi.
5. Michael Moore
Tweeted: “I have asked my distributor NOT to book my film in any theater in North Carolina due 2 their bigoted law against LGBTQ ppl. They have agreed”
6. 95 prominent Mississippi authors
Among them are John Grisham, Donna Tartt, US poet laureate Natasha Tretheway, National Book Award winner Jesmyn Ward, Pulitzer prize winner Donna Tartt, and Kathryn Stockett, author of The Help.
7. Jimmy Buffett
“As for the future of shows in North Carolina, it would definitely depend on whether that stupid law is repealed.”
8. Stephen Schwartz
Composer of Wicked. “I feel that it is very important that any state that passes such a law suffer economic and cultural consequences, partly because it is deserved and partly to discourage others from following suit.”
9. Hulu
Canceled shooting of a new comedy and sent the production to Canada instead.
10. XHamster
A porn site cutting access for North Carolina users. “I think that porn has the power to do what Bruce Springsteen can’t,” said a spokesman.
Others took a different tact or are in the wait-and-see category…
Cyndi Lauper
Going ahead with a concert in Raleigh, but: “I will be donating all of the profits from the show to Equality North Carolina’s efforts to repeal HB2 and I am proud of my manager and agent for joining me in this effort by donating their commissions from the show to this vital effort.”
National Basketball Association
They “do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.”
Other performers are scheduled to perform in North Carolina over the next few months…
Here’s a list:
Alabama Shakes
Aretha Franklin
Ben Harper
Beyoncé
Brad Paisley
Brandi Carlisle
Brian Wilson
Carrie Underwood
Chris Isaak
Chris Stapleton
Dave Mathews
Death Cab for Cutie
Dierks Bentley
Dixie Chicks
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Ellie Goulding
Goo Goo Dolls
Greg Allman
Haim
Heart
Jackson Browne
Jimmy Buffett
Joan Jett
Josh Ritter
Journey
Justin Bieber
Keith Urban
Kenny Chesney
Lake Street Dive
Leon Bridges
Los Lobos
Lucius
Luke Bryan
Maroon 5
Modest Mouse
Mumford & Sons
Pearl Jam
Peter Frampton
Ray LaMontagne
Selena Gomez
Smashing Pumpkins
Snoop Dog
Steely Dan
Steve Miller
Stevie Winwood
Styx
Tedeschi Trucks Band
The Cure
The Doobie Brothers
Toby Keith
Tony Keith
Willie Nelson
Wiz Khalifa
Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments and we’ll include in this list of all-stars and under performers…
Brian
I doubt that Beyonce will boycott North Carolina.
Bob LaBlah
@Brian………..the same goes for the notorious bankruptcy filing Aretha Franklin. Toby Keith’s ol’ poor white trashy looking ass won’t turn down the money either. The same applies to too many others on the list to name, though I do see a few who might get “sick” or have “scheduling conflicts that suddenly arose (Bieber, Underwood, Nelson, Journey, Jett, Frampton, Heart, Dixie Chicks).”
Sweetie Pie
@Brian: She will invite onstage a couple of trans people for a minute just to pink-wash the whole thing, go on with her spiel and laugh all the way to the bank….
Doug
I thought the NBA had announced last week that they’ve officially refused to hold the All Star in NC?
martinbakman
NASCAR and Monster Jam are what would get the most attention.
Can’t imagine Justin Bieber giving 2 fuqs.
LAman
Ani DiFranco also cancelled her performance in NC because of that law.
dbmcvey
Cyndi Lauper has been a tireless supporter of the LGBT community since the beginning of her career. I trust her judgement.
AtticusBennett
Cyndi is doing the right thing. Her audiences are primarily LGBT (I’d know, i’ve seen her in concert more than a dozen times)
Cyndi performing means that the people facing oppression get a respite from the hatred, an evening with the glorious voice and compassionate love of Cyndi.
The others, while they do indeed have many LGBT fans, play to primarily-hetero audiences. Their boycotts are perfect – show that it’s not just LGBT people who will “lose” with this bigotry.
onthemark
That’s the problem, at least in North Carolina (if not Mississippi). The NC law was a response to repeal a PRO-LGBT ordinance by the largest city in the state (Charlotte).
The NC boycott only hurts Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville and the other few large cities: the ONLY pro-gay places, the only places that outsiders ever go to anyway, and the only places with businesses that sell much to outsiders.
The rural Republican yokels in the state legislature KNOW this and don’t give a shit.
Nobody boycotted California over Prop 8. Cyndi Lauper has it right.
onthemark
Btw, North Carolina actually voted for Obama in 2008.
joeyty
Is any of this true ? Queerty’s Matt Baume also claimed that Northern Ireland was Catholic.
potus8
Jason Isbell doing 2 concerts in NC late this month
Brian
Cyndi Lauper should have boycotted.
batesnight
Love Bruce Springsteen. Cyndi Lauper is turning the bad into something good. That’s a great idea to donate all money she makes from the show to turning this around. And the majority of Cyndi Lauper’s fans at her shows now are gay or gay friendly. No sense in punishing the NC gays and denying them a show.
brianrio66
Thanks Queerty, – keep us posted.
Brian
Bruce Springsteen boycotted North Carolina. Cirque du Soleil has reportedly announced today that it is canceling a show there.
He BGB
Cancel the mostly hetero meanspirited christian audience entertainers and bring on the pro gay entertainers in North Carolina! That way the religous freedom quacks will have to see Rupaul or Lady Bunny if they want an evening out! (I’m exaggerating to make a point)…(I’m confused about Jimmy Buffet in the past he had been homophobic. Did he change his mind? His audience was preppy homophobic college students back then)
strix1
It is too bad that HB2 passed in the first place, as it will be more difficult to have it repealed. While this list of performers, if they boycott and cancel performances in NC, it may send a message but may not be the message we are hoping for in the end. It is going to take some vocal, impressionable people to make a change in NC…HB2 was written in general terms with the intent of striking “fear” in haters and those on the fence.
Brian
I never considered Cyndi Lauper a gay icon. What has she ever done for the male homosexual cause?
Invert
@Brian: Google “Cyndi Lauper True Colors Fund”.
Daggerman
…this is truly absurd. Apart from the outrageously unfair law North Carolina has passed. It’s laughable they’ve made everything more difficult for themselves!!! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
BitterOldQueen
The boycotters have it right. Feel-good fundraising concerts that benefit LGBT centers and whatnot are nice (and I get the very valid point that artists with a primarily GLBT following are in a different context than others, in terms of impact), but ANY artist performing in NC is contributing to the state government that passed this nasty bit of business: they pay gasoline taxes for their bus and trucks; they pay taxes on food and hotel rooms and drinks for themselves and their entourage; they pay use taxes on the venue and sales taxes on merchandise. All of that adds up to the inconvenient truth that any artist who tours in NC is making a financial contribution to its governor and legislature.
onthemark
@BitterOldQueen: By that same logic, I guess you are advising every LGBT person and LGBT ally who actually LIVES in North Carolina that they should move?
AtticusBennett
Brian is a closeted wimp. That’s why he’s never considered Lauper a gay icon. Too bad for him. Had he learned anything about Lauper he might have grown some balls and actually Come Out 😀