It seems that one of our favorite Disney star-turned-pop-stars, Selena Gomez, has come out against North Carolina’s HB2, otherwise known as the “bathroom bill.” While many celebrities have now come out against the transphobic and discriminatory law, most have responded by cutting all ties with the state.
Selena, however, has a different take.
Instead of canceling her show, she’s donating a portion of the proceeds to Equality NC, an important organization doing work for the queer community.
In her statement to Billboard, Selena opened up about the stressful experience of trying to figure out how to handle the issue in a way that would make a statement — and an impact.
"I went back and forth on whether I should cancel my concert in North Carolina and ultimately I think what is right for me is to move forward with my show and donate a portion of the proceeds to Equality North Carolina and their effort to defeat this act of discrimination. I’ve been reassured the venue I will be performing in has gender neutral bathrooms as I want everyone coming to my show to be welcomed. I feel like my generation is the most progressive one yet and believe there will be a day soon when laws like HB2 won’t even be a consideration."
Fuck yeah, Selena.
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Selena continued on to say, "I am very fortunate to have grown up in a home where I learned from an early age that everyone should be treated equally.”
Apparently she’s just as confused as we are about the fact that more people don’t seem to understand this basic concept of kindness.
It’s so exciting to have Selena Gomez make a statement about HB2; not just because she’s a star-studded beauty with a whole lot of talent, but because of what a role model she is. Many of her fans are younger, and her coming out to say that there’s a way to treat people, and this HB2 thing isn’t it, is *so* important in keeping each generation more and more inclusive than the last.
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Too, as a Latina popstar, Selena has the ability to further challenge the idea that POC communities are less accepting of queer folks. That stereotype is a difficult one to crack, but as more and more professive celebs of color gain popularity and respect within mainstream media, more people will see that inclusivity isn’t just for white people.
Selena, we appreciate you. We’re always happy when a celeb we’ve loved for years proves that we were right all along about them being flawless AF.
