Maroon 5 is the latest band to cancel its North Carolina concerts in protest of the state’s controversial HB2, also known as the “bathroom bill.” The bill forces transgender individuals to use the bathrooms associated with their gender at birth.

“We have announced that we will be canceling our upcoming shows in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina because of the recent passage of the HB2 legislation,” the band said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision for us to make as a band. We don’t want to penalize our fans in North Carolina by not performing for them, but in the end it comes down to what we feel is morally right.”

Adam Levine and company were scheduled to perform in Charlotte on September 11th and Raleigh on September 12th as part of their upcoming fall tour. Instead, they’ve joined artists like Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr, Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato and Boston who have nixed concerts in North Carolina due to the HB2 legislation that imposes on the rights of the LGBQT community.

In response to Maroon 5’s cancellation, a spokesperson for North Carolina governor Pat McCrory said: “Hundreds of concerts have been successfully performed across North Carolina, including Beyoncé, over the past few weeks since the law passed. We may never know why Maroon 5 waited until weeks later to make their political statement, but at this point, the only people they are hurting by hypocritically targeting North Carolina for selective outrage are their fans and the hardworking men and women servicing these shows while they keep tour dates overseas – even in Russia.”

While it’s true that Beyoncé did perform in Raleigh on May 3rd, she also criticized North Carolina lawmakers over HB2. “As The Formation World Tour makes its stop in the Tar Heel state in the midst of such a controversial time, we think it is important for us to bring attention to those who are committed to being good and carrying on the message of equality in this core of controversy,” Beyoncé said in a statement.

Other artists, like Animal Collective, Alabama Shakes and Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, have performed in North Carolina in an effort to raise funds for groups, like Equality NC and Progress NC, fighting against HB2.

– Rolling Stone