Former Eagles' guitarist to donate show proceeds to fight against HB2

Former Eagles' guitarist Joe Walsh said Wednesday that proceeds from two upcoming North Carolina shows will be donated to organizations fighting against House Bill 2.

Posted 7:47 p.m. Jun 29, 2016 — Updated 7:47 p.m. Jun 29, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Eagles’ guitarist Joe Walsh said Wednesday that proceeds from two upcoming North Carolina shows will be donated to organizations fighting against House Bill 2.

House Bill 2, which was passed in March, requires people to use public bathrooms that match their birth gender and excludes gay and transgender people from discrimination protections, has come under fire by corporations, celebrities and North Carolina cities.

“This legislation is deeply disconcerting and offensive to me and it hits close to home because, in addition to my diverse friends and peers from all walks of life, I have a gay stepson of whom I am very proud and that this legislation would directly affect,” Walsh said in an online statement.

Walsh said that proceeds from a Charlotte performance with Bad Company on Thursday and an August 9 solo show in Raleigh will be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Equality NC. Members from both groups will be on-site at the performances to pass out information and collect donations.

“Joe Walsh is using his music and his influence to demand equality and justice for all who are LGBT, and we couldn’t be more grateful for his courage and his generosity,” ACLU of North Carolina policy director Sarah Preston said in a statement. “Defeating dangerous legislation like North Carolina’s House Bill 2 takes bold action and sustained commitment and that’s just what he’s bringing to this fight.”

Several other artists, including STYX and Cyndi Lauper have also donated proceeds from concerts to local LGBT groups while others, including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Pearl Jam have canceled concert dates in protest of the bill.

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