Beyoncé Knowles has joined the ranks of a long list of progressive performers protesting North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act.
“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,” the politically active singer’s website read, notably not mentioning the other entertainers currently boycotting the state.
Knowles’ denouncement of the so-called “bathroom bill” came within hours of her sold out performance at the Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina Tuesday night.
Beyoncé’s blog, entitled, “Equality NC Works to Prove ‘Y’all Means All,'” promotes Equality NC, which is a pressure group actively working to repeal North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act.
“Among the many organizations doing the good work to get this bill overturned, there is Equality NC, a local organization dedicated to securing equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) North Carolinians,” the message read, while offering information on how to “support Equality NC by donating, volunteering, becoming an ambassador.”
To be clear, North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act removes discrimination protection from lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in public facilities. The law bars transgender men and boys from using women’s public bathrooms and locker rooms if they self-identify as female. The law also forbids local governments from granting transgender people the right to use whatever public facilities they choose.
Before Beyoncé backed those trying to repeal public facility privacy laws, the Lemonade singer openly mocked the police officers across America who called for a boycott of her “Formation World Tour” in response to the singer’s tribute to the Black Panthers and the anti-police Black Lives Matter movement during her Super Bowl 50 halftime show.
While Beyoncé chose to pocket the ticket sales from Tuesday’s concert, other liberal entertainers have either canceled their North Carolina shows or have pledged to donate the proceeds from their concert to LGBT causes.
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