Ringo Starr cancels N.C. show in protest of transgender law

LOS ANGELES, April 14 (UPI) -- Ringo Starr is the latest musician to cancel an upcoming concert in North Carolina to protest the state's controversial transgender law.

The former Beatles drummer, following Bruce Springsteen's cancelation last week, told fans in a statement: "I'm sorry to disappoint my fans in the area, but we need to take a stand against this hatred. Spread peace and love."

Starr said the law is bigotry. "How sad that [lawmakers] feel this group of people cannot be defended."

Known as HB2, the law prevents transgender people from using public restrooms of the gender they identify with, and instead must use restrooms of the gender they were born. Also, municipal governments cannot counteract the law with anti-discrimination laws

Starr ended his statement with the titles of two classic rock songs: Canned Heat's "Let's Work Together" and the Beatles' "All You Need is Love."

Springsteen canceled an April 10 show in Greensboro, telling fans, "To my mind, it's an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress," Springsteen said.