Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Concert Over Transgender Bathroom Law

Bruce Springsteen has canceled his Sunday concert in Greensboro, North Carolina, in response to the state enacting a law mandating that people use public restrooms that correspond to their biological sex.

"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," Springsteen wrote Friday afternoon on his Facebook page.

The North Carolina law has become a lightening rod in the nation's battle over the rights of transgendered people. Conservatives defended the law as a public safety issue.  The law also overrides local laws enacted by municipalities meant to protect rights of gays, lesbians and transgendered people.

orth Carolina immediately started getting backlash. PayPal announced last week that it would pull out of a deal to invest $3.6 million in a new facility in Charlotte. Officials at several police departments in the state told the liberal magazine Mother Jones that they were not sure how the law would be enforced. Meanwhile, seven other states are considering similar measures.

The Jersey-raised Springsteen, long known for taking progressive political stances, sees the law as an attack on LGBT people.

"No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden," Springsteen wrote. "To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress."

His statement continued:

Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, 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.

A 5 p.m., the statement had nearly 43,000 shares on Facebook and more than 5,100 comments.