Elton John Pens Essay About North Carolina's Bathroom Law
"All people have...a fundamental right — to be treated fairly," he wrote.
— -- Elton John penned an essay for news site The Hill in response to North Carolina's controversial bathroom law.
The singer called House Bill 2 (HB2) "discriminatory" and criticized North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory for his unwavering support of it.
The issue, John wrote, is much bigger than forcing transgender people to use bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex.
"This brand of ignorance deliberately shuts out the perspective of an already marginalized community. It’s dangerous, and it goes beyond bathrooms," he wrote in The Hill. "As the father of two children, I would hope their world is free of discriminatory, hateful legislation like North Carolina’s."
John, 69, wrote that his charitable organization, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, aims to support the LGBT community by "investing in resources for the most vulnerable populations." By contrast, the bathroom law, he argued, only serves to further stigmatize the transgender community, which already faces rampant bullying and discrimination.
"McCrory and others who support these discriminatory bathroom bills need to reverse course, but moreover, they need a lesson in compassion," he added. "They need to recognize the existence of trans people, and they need to acknowledge that all people have a fundamental desire — and a fundamental right — to be treated fairly."
John is the latest musician to take issue with the controversial law. In recent weeks, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato canceled shows in North Carolina, while Cyndi Lauper turned her concert date into a rally against HB2. Jimmy Buffett and Gregg Allman spoke out against HB2, but did not cancel their performances in the state.
