--- description: Cirque du Soleil announced that it will no longer perform in North Carolina over concerns about the state's law restricting LGBT protections. title: Cirque du Soleil Cancels North Carolina Shows Over LGBT Law image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt34eb36bb38dbf32e/69888f555f570fe2edb207e9/cirque-du-soleil.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Cirque du Soleil Cancels North Carolina Shows Over LGBT Law  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 15, 2016 7:24 PM CUT  Cast members from Cirque du Soleil perform on stage during the LA Premiere of Cirque du Soleil's "KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities" at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, 2015. Cast members from Cirque du Soleil perform on stage during the LA Premiere of Cirque du Soleil's "KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities" at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, 2015.Rich Fury—Invision/AP  by [Tessa Berenson](/author/tessa-berenson/)  ## Tessa Berenson Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 15, 2016 7:24 PM CUT Cirque du Soleil announced Friday that it will no longer perform in North Carolina over concerns about the state’s new law restricting LGBT protections. “Cirque du Soleil strongly believes in diversity and equality for every individual and is opposed to discrimination in any form,” says [a post](https://www.facebook.com/notes/cirque-du-soleil/cirque-du-soleil-will-not-perform-in-north-carolina/10153690474037675 "undefined") on the group’s Facebook page. “The new HB2 legislation passed in North Carolina is an important regression to ensuring human rights for all.” The post announces cancellations of upcoming shows in three different cities in the state. Cirque du Soleil is just the latest in a growing group of organizations and companies taking business away from the state in the wake of the new legislation. One estimate says the law could cost the state $567 million in lost business, [TIME’s Katy Steinmetz reports](http://time.com/4292758/business-support-lgbt-rights-north-carolina/?iid=sr-link1 "undefined"). **Read More:** [How Corporate America Became the LGBT Movement’s Key Ally](http://time.com/4292758/business-support-lgbt-rights-north-carolina/?iid=sr-link1 "undefined") But while the circus is leaving, Friday also saw the announcement that basketball is staying. The NBA decided to keep its 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte, NC. “It would be easy to say we’re moving it,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, [CNN reports](http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/15/news/nba-north-carolina-anti-lgbt/index.html "undefined"). “We feel there’s a constructive role for the league to play. If we announce we’re moving it now, what’s the incentive to change the law?” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4296351/cirque-du-soleil-north-carolina-lgbt/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4296351/cirque-du-soleil-north-carolina-lgbt/"},"headline":"Cirque du Soleil Cancels North Carolina Shows Over LGBT Law","datePublished":"2016-04-15T19:24:51.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T16:47:59.833Z","description":"But the NBA announced its 2017 All-Star game is staying","url":"https://time.com/4296351/cirque-du-soleil-north-carolina-lgbt/","keywords":["North Carolina"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt34eb36bb38dbf32e/69888f555f570fe2edb207e9/cirque-du-soleil.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tessa Berenson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/tessa-berenson/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt34eb36bb38dbf32e/69888f555f570fe2edb207e9/cirque-du-soleil.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Cast members from Cirque du Soleil perform on stage during the LA Premiere of Cirque du Soleil's \"KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities\" at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Los Angeles. 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