Credit: Andrew MacphersonJoe Walsh is joining the many musicians pledging their support for the LGBT community in North Carolina following the state’s recent passage of legislation that many consider discriminatory against gay and transgender people.
Walsh has announced that he will donate some proceeds from two upcoming concerts in North Carolina to the American Civil Liberties Union to aid in the organization’s lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s House Bill 2, also known as “the bathroom bill.”
In a statement, Walsh maintains that the law “dictates which bathrooms transgender individuals are to use and overrules LGBT anti-discrimination measures passed by local governments in…North Carolina,” and adds that he finds the legislation “deeply disconcerting and offensive.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer also says that the law “hits close to home” because he has a gay stepson who he feels will be adversely affected by it.
Walsh writes, “I believe that music is a language that connects people — without bias — and that my shows are a place where all are welcome and all can feel safe.” He adds that in addition to donating money to the ACLU, he will give proceeds from the shows to Equality NC, another organization that supports the LGBT community.
Walsh will be playing a joint show with Bad Company on June 30 at the PNC Pavilion in Charlotte, and has a headlining gig scheduled for August 9 at the Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh. The ACLU and Equality NC will be collecting donations and passing out information at both performances. Joe also has posted links to the organizations’ websites at his own official site, and encourages fans to contribute to the groups, while joining him “in coming together to protect equal rights for everyone including our LGBT children today and for years to come.”
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