totallygeeked -> totallygeeked general -> 'Some things are more important than a rock show': Bruce Springsteen cancels NC concert over state's 'bathroom laws
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TOPIC: 'Some things are more important than a rock show': Bruce Springsteen cancels NC concert over state's 'bathroom laws
PUBLISHED: 15:00 EST, 8 April 2016 | UPDATED: 16:34 EST, 8 April 2016
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Bruce Springsteen has canceled his concert in North Carolina, citing the state's new law blocking anti-discrimination rules covering the LGBT community.
In a statement on his website Friday, Springsteen said he was canceling the concert scheduled for Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum because of the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, which critics say discriminates against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Springsteen says the law 'is 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.'
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Bruce Springsteen has canceled his concert in North Carolina, citing the state's new law blocking anti-discrimination rules covering the LGBT community
In a statement on his website Friday, Springsteen said he was canceling the concert scheduled for Sunday in Greensboro because of the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act
'No other group of North Carolinians faces such a burden,' he wrote.
'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.'
Springsteen apologized to his fans, writing that some things are 'more important than a rock show'.
'This fight against prejudice and bigotry - which is happening as I write - is one of them,' he continued.
'It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.'
The House Bill 2 was signed into law by Gov Pat McCroy last month after it was approved by the Republican Senate.
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North Carolina legislators decided to rein in local governments by approving a bill on Wednesday that prevents cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules
Director Rob Reiner (left), said he won't produce movies in North Carolina until 'this hateful law is repealed'. Governor Pat McCrory (right) signed the House Bill 2 into law
The law was in response to a Charlotte City Council ordinance approved in February that would have extended protections to gays and lesbians as well as bisexual and transgender people while at hotels, restaurants and stores.
It now prevents the state's cities and counties from passing their own anti-discrimination rules and instead imposes a statewide standard that leaves out sexual orientation and gender identity.
The law orders public schools, government agencies and public college campuses to designate use of multiple-occupancy bathrooms and changing facilities, such as locker rooms, by biological sex stated on a person's birth certificate.
Transgender people can use the bathrooms and changing facilities corresponding with their gender identity only if they get the biological sex on their birth certificate changed, according to ABC News.
North Carolina is the first state to require public school and university students to use only those bathrooms that match the biological sex written on their birth certificates, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures.
Springsteen is the first musical act to cancel his show in the state over the bill, but a number of figures in the entertainment and sports world have spoken out against it.
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The NBA said the 'discriminatory law' runs counter to its values and that it could affect the planned 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte. The Charlotte Hornets basketball team and Carolina Hurricanes both reaffirmed their opposition to all forms of discrimination
Google, PepsiCo Inc, Apple, American Airlines, IBM, Biogen and PayPal have all condemned the law as well
ESPN had been considering North Carolina for the summer X Games but said in a statement that the organization embraces 'diversity and inclusion and will evaluate all of our options as we seek a new city for the X Games'.
The NBA also hinted that the 'discriminatory law' could affect the planned 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte, as the organization is 'dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events'.
The Charlotte Hornets basketball team and Carolina Hurricanes both reaffirmed their opposition to all forms of discrimination in statements.
The NCAA, which is scheduled to hold men's basketball tournament games in Greensboro in 2017 and Charlotte in 2018, said it takes diversity into account when it chooses its event sites.
When Harry Met Sally director Rob Reiner said he won't produce movies in North Carolina until 'this hateful law is repealed and LGBT North Carolinians are treated with the equal dignity they deserve'.
Reiner said that he 'will not film another production in North Carolina', until the law that bans cities from enacting their own anti-discrimination protections is done away with.
He also encouraged his colleagues in the entertainment industry 'to vow to do the same'.
Google, PepsiCo Inc, Apple, American Airlines, IBM, Biogen and PayPal have all condemned the law as well.
PayPal has already canceled plans to build a global operations center in Charlotte because of the bill.
CEO Daniel Schulman said the bill discriminated against the LGBT community and said it would cost the state 400 jobs.
And earlier this week Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed announced Monday that he has ordered city employees to halt non-essential trips to the state, which are funded by taxpayer dollars.
He said the ban was due to North Carolina's 'discriminatory and unnecessary legislation'.
The Atlanta travel ban follows similar actions by the mayor of the District of Columbia, the Boston city council and the governors of Washington, New York, Connecticut and Minnesota.
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Advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights say the law demonizes them with bogus claims about bathroom risks. Pictured are demonstrators outside the NC Executive Mansion in Raleigh
So, we want men to be able to lurk in womens' bathrooms? I feel like a girl today and go in there? Laws have unintended consequences. Men who want to lurk in women's bathrooms for nefarious reasons would then be able to.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
So, you are OK, with men or pedophiles hanging out in womens' bathrooms for nefarious purposes? All they have to do is say "I am transgender". You dont' think they will lie? Oh ok.
Just about every one of those businesses rallying in support of him and Paypal have business in countries such as Saudi, Malaysia, India, etc. Do you know what those countries do to transgenders and gays? Bunch of hypocrites.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
Just about every one of those businesses rallying in support of him and Paypal have business in countries such as Saudi, Malaysia, India, etc. Do you know what those countries do to transgenders and gays? Bunch of hypocrites.
EXACTLY.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Just about every one of those businesses rallying in support of him and Paypal have business in countries such as Saudi, Malaysia, India, etc. Do you know what those countries do to transgenders and gays? Bunch of hypocrites.
EXACTLY.
Oh and BTW, Springsteen has played venues in some of those countries too!
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
he administration at the University of Toronto was recently enlightened on why two separate washrooms are generally established for men and women sharing co-ed residencies.
The University is temporarily changing its policy on gender-neutral bathrooms after two separate incidents of "voyeurism" were reported on campus September 15 and 19. Male students within the University’s Whitney Hall student residence were caught holding their cellphones over female students’ shower stalls and filming them as they showered.
Melinda Scott, dean of students at the University of Toronto, told The Daily Wire that campus police had been contacted immediately and worked with residence staff to “support impacted students and ensure the safety of the Residences.”
“Given the serious nature of these incidents and the impact on directly affected students, we made the decision to specifically designate some washrooms in Whitney Hall for those who identify as men and those who identify as women,” Scott said.
Male students within the University’s Whitney Hall student residence were caught holding their cellphones over female students’ shower stalls and filming them as they showered.
The Daily Wire contacted the University dean and staff members and asked them how they could be unfeeling enough to force men to use men’s washrooms and women to use women’s washrooms.
Man Exploits Washington’s Transgender Law
April 8, 2016
Shortly after Washington State implemented a rule allowing people to use bathrooms and locker rooms based on their chosen gender identification, the state experienced some controversy surrounding the transgender-friendly law. A man undressed in front of girls in a Seattle Parks and Recreation women’s locker room in February.
Several alarmed women in the locker room had the facility’s staff remove the man. When staff asked the man to leave, he responded he was justly operating within the new law.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
Just about every one of those businesses rallying in support of him and Paypal have business in countries such as Saudi, Malaysia, India, etc. Do you know what those countries do to transgenders and gays? Bunch of hypocrites.
No kidding.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I hope he and the E Street band are happy counting the money they lost by cancelling. And do you really think NC cares? Sheesh. Some people are so full of themselves.
I hope he and the E Street band are happy counting the money they lost by cancelling. And do you really think NC cares? Sheesh. Some people are so full of themselves.
I never cared for Springsteen.
See? They don't care about their money because they have plenty of it and an income stream constantly coming in from royalties. They don't need the money.
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Sometimes you're the windshield, and sometimes you're the bug.
North Carolina is where my dd and her family will be coming home to. My little granddaughters has a right to go into a bathroom that is just for women. A place to feel safe. Why should their rights (Transgender ) be more important then woman and little girls? Or little boys for that matter.
If you are a man who has chosen to live as a woman, can't you just go into the woman's bathroom? Nobody checks your plumbing before you can use the bathroom.
This sounds like a way for a man to walk into a woman's restroom and hang out. Literally.
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Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.
Flan, there are very real world consequences when you change laws like this. There WILL be voyeurs who will choose to hang out in the womens' restroom. But, obviously you want to bury your head in the sand and pretend and go La La La.
Flan, there are very real world consequences when you change laws like this. There WILL be voyeurs who will choose to hang out in the womens' restroom. But, obviously you want to bury your head in the sand and pretend and go La La La.
Actually, I am humming "American Skin (41 Shots)" right now! LOL
flan
-- Edited by flan327 on Saturday 9th of April 2016 07:15:15 AM
"In the decades following his emergence on the national scene in 1975, Bruce Springsteen proved to be that rarity among popular musicians, an artist who maintained his status as a front line recording and performing star, consistently selling millions of albums and selling out arenas and stadiums around the world year after year, as well as retaining widespread critical approbation, with ecstatic reviews greeting those discs and shows."
Flan, there are very real world consequences when you change laws like this. There WILL be voyeurs who will choose to hang out in the womens' restroom. But, obviously you want to bury your head in the sand and pretend and go La La La.
Actually, I am humming "American Skin (41 Shots)" right now! LOL
flan
-- Edited by flan327 on Saturday 9th of April 2016 07:15:15 AM
I suggest you go to Youtube and listen to the Go Go Girls sing "La La Land". It would be the perfect song for the Bernie campaign!!!
"In the decades following his emergence on the national scene in 1975, Bruce Springsteen proved to be that rarity among popular musicians, an artist who maintained his status as a front line recording and performing star, consistently selling millions of albums and selling out arenas and stadiums around the world year after year, as well as retaining widespread critical approbation, with ecstatic reviews greeting those discs and shows."
But what does All Music know?
And I would LOVE to see him in concert.
flan
Sooo, go see him. You managed to get to Hawaii. I think you can google him and find out where he's playing.
Oh, I expected the reaction to his decision, but not the bashing of his MUSICAL talents.
I couldn't tell you the name of a Merle Haggard song, but I know his legacy.
flan
That's the thing about musical artists. Different people like different artists. You certainly have no problem dissing artists you don't like but oh noes don't say anything bad about an artist I like.
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“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
well, AM a musician myself--to give credit where it's due, he does have a unique voice and he is a talented lyricist--in a way, like willie, he has a certain sound that you either like or tolerate depending on your tastes
that said, what he thinks about ANY law is his opinion only and not some edict from on high
have seen him three times over the last thirty years or more and could have just as well done without the experience as with it--while talented to be sure, he's just not in the league with many other rockers/musicians of his generation
paige, SRV, clapton, squires, santana, winwood, etc.
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" the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. "--edmund burke
A quick question for the transgender community. If having to deal with the discomfort and inconvenience of using facilities designated for physical gender and not gender identity meant that one little girl was spared from a sexual predator, would that not be a noble sacrifice?
The San Jose-based company PayPal recently announced that it is canceling plans to bring 400 jobs to North Carolina after lawmakers passed a law that restricts protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. More than 80 business leaders recently signed a letter calling for a repeal, including Facebook and Apple CEOs Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook. Bank of America, North Carolina’s largest corporation, also tweeted that it wants the bill repealed. Many critics and activists have called the bill "the most anti-LGBT bill in the country."
In addition to threats from businesses, left-wing rocker Bruce Springsteen has cancelled upcoming shows in NC, and NY Gov Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order banning all non-essential travel to the state. (An ironic position to take since the policies of Cuomo and his predecessors have caused thousands of New York public employees to take their bloated pensions and move to North Carolina permanently.) So what is the horrible, hate-filled bigotry in this bill?
The law directs all public schools, government agencies and public college campuses to require that multiple-occupancy bathrooms and changing facilities, such as locker rooms, be designated for use only by people based on their "biological sex" stated on their birth certificate. Transgender people can use the facilities that correspond to their gender identity only if they have the biological sex on their birth certificate changed. According to the law, public institutions can still offer single-occupancy facilities.
John Rustin, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council, testified before the Senate, saying that the Charlotte ordinance "means men could enter women restrooms and locker rooms -- placing the privacy, safety, and dignity of women and the elderly at great risk."
After signing the bill, NC Gov. Pat McCrory said, "The basic expectation of privacy in the most personal of settings, a restroom or locker room, for each gender was violated by government overreach and intrusion by the mayor and city council of Charlotte. As a result, I have signed legislation passed by a bipartisan majority to stop this breach of basic privacy and etiquette which was to go into effect April 1."
Some folks on the right can be insensitive, even antagonistic towards the LGBT community at times. Certain aspects of life can be difficult for individuals with gender identity issues. Every attempt should be made to treat all people with dignity and respect. Legislators could have left the door open for special accommodations to be made. Perhaps the legislation could have accounted for individuals who are currently under the care of a physician or psychiatric expert for gender identity issues. It most likely would not have stopped much of the backlash. Adhering to reasonable compromise is not a character trait of the militant left, but it would have been the right thing to do. But even if exceptions were made, there would still be the question of whether adults with male anatomy should be using showers, restrooms and locker rooms with young girls.
Being concerned about the potential threat from perverts and sexual predators as well as addressing simple privacy issues is not the same as horrific, bigoted attacks against transgender individuals. Like most liberal causes, there is an initial reaction based solely on emotion and a false narrative, without giving any rational thought. It can be safely assumed that close to 0 percent of people outraged by this bill actually read the bill. It’s pretty much guaranteed Bruce Springsteen didn’t read it.
Many opponents of the bill pointed out that there are no known instances of a sexual predator committing a crime and then using city ordinances as a legal defense. But even they could not argue that it is a potential threat. And shouldn’t we always err on the side of caution? Shouldn’t we protect the most vulnerable first?
According to a report in “Life Site News”, on Feb 8th of this year, a man twice entered the changing room of a swimming pool in Seattle and began disrobing, once in front of a young girls' swim team, saying transgender policies gave him the right to do so. "The law has changed and I have a right to be here," the man reportedly claimed.
Some might say that this anecdote is an anomaly. How often does this happen? But isn’t one instance one too many? One could argue that an individual with a gender identity different from their physical gender is a fairly rare occurrence as well. I’d bet there are a lot more perverts out there than legitimate transgender folks. And who should be better equipped to handle an uncomfortable situation, a transgender adult or a young child.
Like many passionate issues for left-wing activists, they are only passionate when not directly involved. Imagine a progressive father waiting outside a dressing room for his pre-teen daughter when a burly middle-aged man walks right in saying, “It’s cool, don’t worry, I’m a woman. Would you like me to check on her?” Would his initial response be, “Yes, thank you ma’am. I’m so happy you don’t have to pretend anymore”? I’m sure Mark Zuckerberg would not be celebrating justice and equality because his daughter was forced to shower with a bunch of creepy old men.
The left continues to hold on to this belief that a majority should always sacrifice to accommodate a minority, even when it defies all logic. Everyone should have the right to equal protection under the law, but sometimes it gets a little complicated. You do not have the right to never be inconvenienced, though. Should the LGBT community focus their attention on other issues? Should they acknowledge the potential downside to their demands on this issue and make the sacrifice for the sake of other possible victims?
Must I go look up freakish democrats or can we just say lawmakers. Alrighty then maybe lawmakers should also have their own bathroom. The difference is we're not making it legal for lawmakers to be in the opposite restroom
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“Until I discovered cooking, I was never really interested in anything.” ― Julia Child ―
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