The punk band will perform in North Carolina where a recently passed law means transgender people are banned from using some public bathrooms
Laura Jane Grace of punk band Against Me! has said she will make a stand against anti-trans law HB 2 at a show planned for North Carolina on 15 May.
The protest comes in response to North Carolina’s recently passed law that bans people from public toilets that don’t align with the “biological sex” listed on their birth certificate, effectively banning trans people from certain public spaces.
In a series of tweets dated 30 March Grace said: “It was suggested to me in an interview that we might cancel our May 15th show in Durham, NC because of the states HB2 bill. Hell no! I’m even more eager to play North Carolina ’cause of the bill!”
In an interview with Buzzfeed she backed up this statement, saying: ““I think the real danger with HB2 is that it creates a target on transgender people specifically. When you feel targeted as a trans person, the natural inclination is to go into hiding. But visibility is more important than ever; to go there and have the platform of a stage to stand on and speak your mind and represent yourself.”
“I will definitely be speaking about trans rights on stage,” she continued. “I’m going to create an event around the show as a form of protest to say that despite whatever stupid laws they enact, trans people are not going to be scared. They are not going to go away.”
Buzzfeed reports that Grace will also be calling on the audience to use gender neutral bathrooms at the show as a show of solidarity.
(via Dazed)
