North Carolina’s new discriminatory restroom laws are making waves beyond the music and entertainment industry. This month, Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen cancelled concerts in protest of the new anti-LGBTQ law, House Bill 2 (HB2), which requires transgendered people to use public bathrooms that align with their birth genders and invalidates the local ordinances protecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination. The aforementioned rockers are just a short list of entertainers and big businesses taking their business elsewhere. Others, such as Cyndi Lauper and English band Mumford & Sons, have turned their North Carolina performances into benefits to raise money and awareness against the law. Moogfest, a music, art and technology festival, which takes place in Durham, has issued a statement protesting the law—though the festival will run regardless.
Now the art world has its own A-lister protesting the law. Eric Shiner, the Director of the Warhol Museum, has rescinded his acceptance to visit UNC-Chapel Hill in response to HB2.
