The world's biggest circus entertainment company has joined a growing chorus of voices protesting North Carolina's controversial HB2 law, announcing that it was canceling performances for two shows that were set to come to the state this year.
In a press release sent out Friday, Cirque du Soleil said it was canceling performances of Ovo in Greensboro (April 20-24) and Charlotte (July6-10) and of TORUK-Avatar in Raleigh (June 22-26).
In the release, the company wrote, "Cirque du Soleil believes in equality for all. It is a principle that guides us with both our employees and our customers. We behave as change agents to reach our ultimate goal of making a better world with our actions and our productions."
House Bill 2, which took effect on April 1, has been roundly criticized for taking away protections from the LGBTQI community. The bill excludes LGBT people from being included in municipal discrimination protections and, in a move that has drawn much media focus, forces people to use only bathrooms that correlate to their biological gender in state-related facilities.
That element of the legislation, which applies to students and which has led to the law being dubbed the "bathroom bill," has been seen as a direct attack on the transgender community, barring its members from using restrooms in which they feel most comfortable, and which correspond to their true gender identities.
The law has drawn criticism from all corners of American public life, but entertainers in particular have been using their platforms to make loud and pointed statements about the laws.
Bruce Springsteen announced earlier this month that he was canceling his Greensboro Coliseum show, saying in a statement, "To my mind, [the bill]'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."
Springsteen's message was met with plenty of love on social media.
I ❤️ Bruce @Springsteen.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 8, 2016
Since Springsteen's announcement, more artists have cancelled shows in the state; others, like Cyndi Lauper, have chosen to play shows but use them to "build public support to repeal HB2".
Here is a list of artists and acts who have shown their support for North Carolina's LGBTQI people by canceling their performances or speaking out against the controversial law.
Cirque du Soleil (canceled performances)
Bruce Springsteen (canceled performances)
Ringo Starr (canceled performances)
Cyndi Lauper (holding concert/rally, will donate profits to Equity North Carolina)
Mumford and Sons (donating profits from arena show to a Charlotte LGBTQI organization)
Ani DiFranco (canceled slot at Festival for the Eno in Durham)
Louis C.K. (will donate profits from Asheville show to Equity North Carolina)
Stephen Schwarz (writer of Wicked, put an embargo on theaters in the state from performing 18 musicals he has written)
Jimmy Buffett (will perform two sold-out shows in NC, but none down the line unless the law is repealed)
Turning Against Me! (band will turn upcoming Durham show into "protest" event)
Brandi Carlile (will donate proceeds from upcoming show to ACLU Foundation of NC)