Bryan Adams has canceled his upcoming show in Mississippi because of the state's newly-passed law, House Bill 1523. In a statement issued on his website, Adams called the bill "anti-LGBT" and "extremely discriminatory."
Mississippi has passed anti-LGBT ‘Religious Liberty’ bill 1523. I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against in the state of Mississippi. I cannot in good conscience perform in a State where certain people are being denied their civil rights due to their sexual orientation. Therefore i’m [sic] cancelling my 14 April show at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Using my voice I stand in solidarity with all my LGBT friends to repeal this extremely discriminatory bill. Hopefully Mississippi will right itself and I can come back and perform for all of my many fans. I look forward to that day.
#stop1523
As some pointed out on Twitter, Adams may be somewhat of a hypocrite. In 2010, Adams performed at various locations throughout the Middle East, including Syria and Qatar, where homosexual acts are illegal.
Bryan Adams had a heck of a 2010, playing countries where women and LGBT are subjugated and abused @smittie61984 pic.twitter.com/VepT6aZ5Be
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) April 11, 2016
Adams is the second high-profile artist to cancel a show due to newly-passed laws. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band canceled a show in North Carolina last week over objections to the "bathroom bill."