Dave Matthews Band Not Canceling North Carolina Show

What would you say?
From: NewNowNext

 The Dave Matthews Band has joined the chorus of acts responding to North Carolina’s homophobic HB2.

On Monday, the group announced it would not be canceling Friday’s show at Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion, but a portion of proceeds would be donated to a group of pro-LGBT nonprofits.

In a statement, the band said it partnered with NC Needs You, an organization that encourages artists to keep their dates in North Carolina, “in order to bring awareness and resources to the fight for equality in response to House Bill 2.”

Matthews, 49, has long been supportive of LGBT equality, speaking out in favor of marriage equality in 2012.

HB2 sets a statewide class of nondiscrimination that does not include sexual orientation or gender identity. It also requires people in government facilities to use the bathroom that corresponds with the gender on their birth certificate. The bill, which overturned a Charlotte nondiscrimination ordinance, was signed into law March 23.

“I have no understanding of why we feel the need to allow some people the right to do things and deny other people those rights,” he he told journalist Gene Stout. “There’s no way that I can figure out that somehow my morality trumps someone else’s morality.”

Since HB2 was signed into law in March, performers including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas and Maroon 5 have canceled shows in the state.

Others—including Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran and Mumford and Sons—have kept their show dates, but used performances as pro-LGBT platforms or fundraisers.

Funds from the DMB show will benefit the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, the ACLU of North Carolina, Equality NC and Time Out Youth.