Singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper spoke
out against a controversial North Carolina law that targets the LGBT
community ahead of a concert in Raleigh.
“I was just surprised that you'd want
to go back to that kind of law that would promote that much
discrimination,” Lauper, a strong supporter of LGBT rights, told
WRAL
before her concert Saturday at the Duke Energy Center for Performing
Arts.
House Bill 2 was approved during a
one-day special session in March. It blocks cities from enacting
LGBT protections and prohibits transgender people using the bathroom
of their choice in government buildings, including schools.
“That's why I came here. I'm not
here to preach ideology. I'm here to have people understand what the
law really is. And you have to understand what transgender really
is,” she said.
She met with a dozen LGBT youth in
Raleigh and addressed the issue during her show.
In a statement given to ABC11.com,
the North Carolina Republican Party criticized Lauper's position on
House Bill 2.
“While Republicans are focusing on
raising teacher pay and improving our growing economy, the Roy Cooper
democrats and the Hollywood left continue their zealotry in favor of
grown men accessing young girls locker rooms. It's bad policy and
bad politics on their side,” said Dallas Woodhouse, the group's
executive director.
Lauper said she is donating the
proceeds from Saturday's concert to Equality NC, which is working to
repeal the law.