Bryan Adams Cancels Concert Over Anti-Gay Legislation
@Ruby3881 (1963)
Canada
April 12, 2016 3:57pm CST
Bryan Adams has announced he is cancelling an upcoming concert in Biloxi, Mississippi. The decision is rooted in the passage of HB1523, which Mississippi calls the "Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act."
The new law allows religious groups, state employees such as county clerks, and certain businesses (e.g. florists, wedding photographers, etc.) to discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as on the basis of a belief that sex belongs only in a lawful marriage between one man and one woman.
The law allows people to be refused employment or fired, and also to be refused housing, not just to be refused usage of certain bathroom facilities or a service related to a gay wedding. There is even a provision in the law that allows for the establishment of gender-specific dress codes, which at least one group says could be used to prohibit women from wearing pants. As Adams puts it, this law deprives people of their civil rights. And I applaud his decision to boycott the state. I hope many other artists will follow suit.
Did you realize that the new law was so far reaching?
[Image: janeb13/Pixabay/CC0]
11 people like this
11 responses
@kevin1877uk (36987)
•
12 Apr 16
Oh wow. sounds like Mississippi needs to re-think.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
Actually, Mississippi isn't alone. There are a number of other states that have similar laws on the books, and before these laws were things like the "no promo" laws that forbid teachers from talking about LGBTQ issues - sometimes even when a student is troubled and comes to the teacher for counselling or help with a bullying situation.
(Apparently the complete name for the "no promo" laws trips the "bad word" filter here. How ironic! Tough to talk about these issues when the very language we need is forbidden...)
2 people like this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
@kevin1877uk As a Canadian, I have frequent opportunities to realize certain claims made about the US are blown way out of proportion! We get a lot of similar thinking here in Western Canada too, sadly. I try to be tolerant even when faced with truly ignorant people, but I am sorely tempted sometimes to ask if a person's parents were related by blood...
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
14 Apr 16
Not sure if depriving liberal minded rock fans of a great show because of a handful of narrow minded bigots is the right step - the stage is a powerful platform for Adams to use to address the situation and rally support - they should send Tom Robinson instead with his brilliant pro-gay anthem - Sing If Your Glad To Be Gay
Tom Robinson Band - Sing If You're Glad To Be Gay from 7" EP "Rising Free...." (EMI) 1978 written by Tom Robinson recorded live nov/dec 1977 other great song...
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
15 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 hope his decision has the right impact
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
14 Apr 16
The stage is certainly a powerful platform, but then so is media coverage of a concert cancellation. And that coverage is likely to reach a lot of people who wouldn't have attended the concert in the first place. The economical impact of a cancelled concert, and of travel and business boycotts, are also further reaching.
It takes both kinds of message sometimes to get the point across. At this point, whatever action people opt for is probably better than standing mute.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
15 Apr 16
@arthurchappell Me too! But I do think the people in Mississippi need to be given a clear message about this law. Either they agree with their elected representatives - in which case, they're part of the problem - or they need to stand up to their politicians and demand the law be changed.
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
13 Apr 16
It doesn't affect just LGBT, but also interracial couples and possibly others. They are way over reaching and putting us back a few hundred or so years at the same time.
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
13 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 There are some passages in the Bible which are interpreted by a few to mean that one race should not marry with another. While others take it to mean a person should not marry somebody of a different faith. I see according to Section 2 the bill currently protects anti LGBT people. But if they're willing to go this far just to protect one religious belief, then why not others? A lot of the wording in that bill could be used for just that purpose and all they have to do is add to that section.
1 person likes this
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
@cupkitties OK, I see where you're coming from. I think they'd have to amend the law to cover those aspects. But you're very right that if they target one difference, it's just as easy to target another and another after that....
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
I knew it was going to be bad but I didn't know all of this. I'm no celebrity but I will avoid that state and not travel to it or through it..
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
14 Apr 16
@Ruby3881 I hope the tourism dollars disappear and forces them to be human instead of inhuman gods.
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
12 Apr 16
This is why you need both sides of the political spectrum to work the were meant to. So laws like this do not get put in place. I think those days have been long gone for a while now. More laws are becoming more common in some of these states with really no one to stop them other than people's money.
1 person likes this
@LindaCPearson (2240)
• United States
4 May 16
No I didn't realize that. So sad to think that there are so many Americans who are so prejudiced against others for simply wanting the rights to life, liberty and happiness. I'm glad artists are fighting against such actions. No pants for women - how totally asinine.
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Apr 16
Who knew Bryan Adams could still get a gig.
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
Considering Mississippi governor Phil Bryant just got his whole "Mississippi in New York" event cancelled over this law, I'd be more concerned about whether he can still get a gig at the end of his term in office!
@Ruby3881 (1963)
• Canada
13 Apr 16
I imagine in certain states, it's very strong. Which is really too bad, as those who tend to put their religion first when they vote are about as misguided, as a group, as those who would choose a candidate simply because of that person's gender or race.
