Maroon 5 scrap North Carolina shows

Maroon 5 have become the latest stars to scrap concerts in North Carolina to protest a controversial anti-LGBT law.

House Bill 2, commonly known as the Bathroom Bill, was signed into law in March (16) and forces transgender residents to use gender-specific restrooms. It also limits the rights of all members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community against discrimination.

Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr, Pearl Jam, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas have all axed plans to play in the state as a result of the legislation, and now Adam Levine and his Maroon 5 bandmates are adding their names to the growing list of protesting performers, cancelling two shows in the area in September (16).

"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," they write in a statement posted on their website.

"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."

The news emerges three days after openly-gay star Elton John attacked North Carolina lawmakers for passing the bill in a passionate essay for news site The Hill.

In the article, published on Tuesday (17May16), he called out Governor Pat McCrory for signing the proposal into law, and added, "Forcing transgender people to use the bathroom of a gender with which they don't identify isn't just inconvenient or impractical. For many, especially young students still grappling with their transition, it can be traumatic, and at worst, unsafe.

"The failure of McCrory and other lawmakers to see this is a failure of compassion, a failure to recognize the difficult and frequently unwelcoming world transgender people must navigate every day, stigmatized by the fear and ignorance of others."