Dead & Company go on with its June 10 North Carolina show and donate $100,000 to LGBT organizations instead of boycotting the state for passing House Bill 2, as some other entertainers have.
In a statement posted on their Facebook page Thursday, band members said they deliberated on whether they should cancel their Charlotte show to send a message against HB 2 but decided donating money was the "most effective way to move forward." Dead & Company includes former Grateful Dead members, along with pop singer John Mayer.
HB 2 prohibits transgender people from using public restrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity, if those are located in government buildings, including public schools and university campuses. The law, introduced and signed into law in less than 12 hours during a special legislative session March 23, also rescinds all existing LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances, prohibits new ones, bars residents from suing for discrimination in state court, and bars cities from setting a minimum wage higher than the state's.
The band will donate $100,000 to the Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina. It also will have a "Participation Row" area at the show, where local organizations will register people to vote.
The members of Dead & Company said they want every person in attendance to learn about the consequences of HB 2 and hope fans take "meaningful action" by registering to vote. "Dead shows have always been a safe place for all of our audience to come together through music no matter how they appear or self-identity," they said in the Facebook post.
The Dave Matthews Band recently announced it will be donating part of its North Carolina show proceeds to LGBT organizations. Artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr have canceled shows in the state, while others such as Cyndi Lauper and Mumford and Sons have taken the route of donating proceeds to LGBT groups.
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