The highly contested anti-LGBT legislation that are circulating around American States have sparked a backlash amongst America's biggest stars and companies.
GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) are calling on the entertainment industry's most prominent figures to step forward and support their open-letter which addresses the regressive stance that pervades these legislations. In the letter, they state; "“As representatives of our nation’s entertainment and media industry, we wish to express our profound disappointment in the proliferation of anti-LGBT legislation being considered across this great country. By standing together — and alongside so many others who are speaking out from the corporate and business communities at the national, state and local levels — we hope to demonstrate that the kind of discrimination being proposed — and in some cases enacted — is simply unacceptable.”
When North Carolina passed a bill that invalidates anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals, Bruce Springsteen cancelled a concert he was due to play there. Similarly, Bryan Adams has pulled out of a concert in Mississippi planned for later this month where a religious liberty bill will be put into practice on July 1. Netflix, Viacom and Univision are standing with the LGBT community as well as Disney and Marvel who threatened never shoot in Georgia again if they passed the bill. Thankfully, the bill was rejected. Billy Ray-Cyrus is the latest celebrity pledging to GLAAD's movement.

.@billyraycyrus is joining the list of artists speaking out against anti-LGBT bills proposed around the country pic.twitter.com/EphbM7JuDz

— GLAAD (@glaad) April 11, 2016

The war is far from won for GLAAD as many States are still pending legislation. The letter concludes with; “The results of such laws taking effect across the nation makes it difficult to attract and retain workers, grow local and state economies, and bring top talent to schools and universities — all of which our communities depend on for sustainability. Finally, it undermines the core values of the companies we represent and those of a majority of this nation’s most successful and profitable businesses.”
The support that GLAAD is receiving from the media is encouraging and hopefully this movement will gain momentum across all States. If you want to follow GLAAD's progress their Twitter handle is @glaad.