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Bryan Adams cancels Mississippi gig over anti-LGBT law

“I find it incomprehensible that LGBT citizens are being discriminated against in the state of Mississippi.”

CANADIAN SINGER BRYAN Adams has cancelled a gig in the southern US state of Mississippi over a law which is seen as anti-LGBT people.

The 56-year-old rocker was scheduled to perform at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi on 14 April. However, he says that a new law passed last week means he “cannot in good conscience” play the gig.

The bill, House Bill 1523, was signed last week by Republican Governor Phil Bryant and is set to take effect on 1 July. It allows officials and businesses to deny marriage-related services to gay people or refuse to employ them if they feel it would violate their religious beliefs.

Similar measures have popped up in other states since the US Supreme Court legalised gay marriage across the nation in June 2015.

In a statement today, Adams said that he was “using his voice”.

“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 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.

Last week, Bruce Springsteen cancelled a gig in North Carolina over a law seen as anti-transgender people.

Major corporations with operations in Mississippi and North Carolina have urged state leaders to overturn the laws, saying they impact recruitment and diminish the ability to draw tourism and new business.

Read: Congressman blasts Springsteen as ‘radical left’ and ‘bully’ after gig cancellation

Read: Bruce Springsteen cancels North Carolina gig over transgender bathrooms law

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Paul Hosford
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