It may seem a bit selfish, but anyone who knows the editor of this publication knows that he (I) am a long standing Duran Duran fan, so I’ll say it anyway. I love Duran Duran. Last night (April 16), the band played North Carolina and vocally protested bigotry. As you have probably heard, some artists are taking the boycott route, including big-ticket stadium-stuffers like Bruce Springsteen. This is all in reaction to the “bathroom bills” currently being shopped by the idiot hate-boutique of the Family Research Council, which is one of Orlando’s favorite things (at least in terms of reminding us that the enemy is actually at our back door). In North Carolina, HB2 stretched the limits of transgender bathroom methodology and wrapped the phenomenon around all of the LGBT population. Rather than cancel, some artists are showing up to make a statement, and, below, you can hear Duran Duran’s via its singer Simon Le Bon. The band, he says, stand against all bigotry; he does so while standing in front of an American flag that shifts from trans colors to rainbow colors, because we’re all in this together. Trans star Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! made a similar move last week. See, when you’re Springsteen or Ringo Starr, the money speaks louder than the words. But when you are Duran Duran or Against Me!, sometimes the words are what help. While the bills are spreading like chicken pox at this point, it’s good to know that those in the entertainment industry are taking the issue seriously.
Watch below as Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon reads the band’s statement on LGBT rights and signs a petition – and encourages others to do the same – against the North Carolina legislature and its governor for making this pathetic, hateful mistake.
Here’s the statement:
With respect to the current storm which is howling through this State, we considered cancelling our show on Saturday, but decided to go ahead, both for the sake of our fans and to support those in North Carolina who feel as strongly as we do about this issue. We see this as an opportunity to make the following statement.
Yes here it is again, just plain old-fashioned prejudice, fear and oppression, the same old kind that’s blighted the human race, in varying degrees, for all of its history. Duran Duran is opposed to bigotry and discrimination in all of its ugly forms, and so it follows that we are opposed to the basic premise of HB2. We support the rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender community, to have equal opportunities. We support their rights to live free, happy, fulfilled lives. If you live in this State and feel the same way, we urge you to register, so that you can vote; so that your voice can be heard. We urge you to sign this petition which will be presented at the General Assembly meeting on April 25th in North Carolina. You have the power to repeal this outdated and cruel legislation.
Sign up forms for the petition and information about HB2 and how to repeal it will be available at the show on Saturday night – so go visit the teams manning the Equality NC stalls that will be on site.
Our thanks to both Equality NC (www.equalitync.org) and NC Needs You (a new organization dedicated to connecting performers with like-minded nonprofits in the state battling against HB2) for their support and education on this issue. And, like us, please support Time Out Youth (http://www.timeoutyouth.org/), who will also be at the show and do incredible work with LGBT youth in the area.
– Simon, Nick, John & Roger
