Beyonce Speaks Out Against North Carolina Bathroom Bill Before Concert

Singer follows in the footsteps of Jimmy Buffet and Gregg Allman, who chose to speak out, but not cancel their concerts

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 05: Beyonce performs onstage during the 2015 Budweiser Made in America Festival at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 5, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch)
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Beyonce has dabbled into the debate about North Carolina’s HB2 law that requires transgender people to use public restrooms that correspond to their sex at birth.

Unlike a few other musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, the singer did not cancel her concert in Raleigh, North Carolina on Tuesday, but did release a statement encouraging fans in the state to support Equality NC, a local organization dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for the LGBTQ community.

“As The Formation World Tour makes its stop in the Tar Heel state in the midst of such a controversial time, we think it is important for us to bring attention to those who are committed to being good and carrying on the message of equality in this core of controversy,” read a statement on Beyonce’s website.

The note to fans encouraged them to “support Equality NC by donating, volunteering, becoming an ambassador, attending an event, or simply spreading the word.”

Beyonce holds a clear stance on the North Carolina “bathroom law,” a legislation that prohibits people from using public bathrooms that don’t match the gender they were assigned at birth, something of particular concern to transgender citizens.

Ringo Starr, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas followed in Springsteen’s footsteps by boycotting the state over the law, while Beyonce adopted the strategy of Jimmy Buffet and Gregg Allman, who also spoke out against the law, but did not cancel their shows.

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