Lawmaker Claims The Boss Is A Bully

Bruce Springsteen

A U.S. congressman who represents portions of Greensboro, N.C., is accusing Bruce Springsteen of being a "bully," after the rock star canceled a concert there to protest a new law that's being described as anti-gay.

"It's disappointing he's not following through on his commitments," said Rep. Mark Walker, a Republican freshman congressman.

"Bruce is known to be on the radical left," continued Walker, "and he's got every right to be so, but I consider this a bully tactic. It's like when a kid gets upset and says he's going to take his ball and go home."

Springsteen was set to play Greensboro on Sunday, but canceled because he objects to North Carolina's recently passed House Bill 2, which requires people to use the bathrooms of the sex reflected on their birth certificates.

⚡️ “Bruce Springsteen joins North Carolina backlash”https://t.co/NBiQWZJxkf

— Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) April 9, 2016

According to The Hollywood Reporter, activists say the law discriminates against the transgender community, and many in the entertainment industry agree. After speaking against the law, Lionsgate moved the production of its Hulu pilot Crushed from North Carolina to Canada, for example.

Lawmakers, though, say the new law is meant to keep would-be criminals from using legal loopholes to access women's bathrooms.

"I choose to stand with our sheriffs, who support this bill, which doesn't target the LGBTQ community; it targets imposters," said Walker. "It's a little crazy to think sexual predators wouldn't be devious enough to pull something off if they were free to go into any bathroom they want."