By Jay Mack
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
It’s not often that North Carolina dominates international headlines, but the past few days were the exception. Times are definitely changing, even here in North Carolina. But, a major hindrance to these changes were put into law, this week.
Last Wednesday, North Carolina legislature passed House Bill 2, which eliminates anti-discrimination laws. Now, there is no protection for all gay, lesbian, and bisexuals in the state. It also means transgenders are not allowed to use the bathroom of their current gender.
Many entertainment events taking place in North Carolina are now placed in an awkward position. Among those is Moogfest 2016, which is taking place in Durham and has roots in Asheville. Ahead of all of the controversy soon to follow, Moogfest has released an official statement in regards to the changes.
Read Moogfest’s statement below:
To our global community of artists, technologists, and future-thinkers. We are stunned by the news this week, and we invite you to join us in opposing regressive, unjust discrimination of all kinds.
House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act, passed on Wednesday by North Carolina’s legislature and signed into law by the governor, eliminates anti-discrimination protections for all lesbians, gays and bisexuals and bars transgender people from using bathrooms that do not match the gender they were born with.
Moogfest is proud of its home in Durham, its heritage in Asheville, and our friends throughout the state of North Carolina. But we adamantly oppose this law, and any laws that enable or encourage exclusion and bigotry.
Moogfest is dedicated to the legacy of Bob Moog, an engineer who partnered with artists to create new technological tools for creative expression. It was Bob’s lifelong belief that true innovation comes through collaboration, not exclusion. Moogfest offers an inclusive environment where all people come together to explore big ideas for the future. We value diversity, self-expression and experimentation above all else. This discriminatory law not only runs counter to the basic principles of equality, fairness, and justice – it is a direct affront to our principled mission.
We will have spaces dedicated to education and dialogue around these issues and we will take every step possible to ensure that Moogfest remains a safe and welcoming space for all festival-goers, especially the many LGBTQ artists and speakers joining us this year.
We invite all fans of Moogfest to join us. We are standing our ground in North Carolina, and will use every opportunity to protest this law – on the stage, in the streets, and on social media.
- Follow and share the story on social media #WeAreNotThis #HB2 #NC
- Support the work of our allies at the ACLU of North Carolina
- Sign Equality NC’s petition
Synthesize love,
Your friends at Moogfest
